Worldwatch Institutehttp://www.worldwatch.org/taxonomy/term/443%2053%2055%2062%20435%2070%20545%20546%20656/all
cust-enThis is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site, subject to copyright and fair use.First Worldwatch Europe Branch Opens in Copenhagenhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/kIKxDQMSJ_k/first-worldwatch-europe-branch-opens-copenhagen
<!--paging_filter--><p>Friday, February 25, 2011</p><h4 style="text-align: center;">Event also announces the release of the groundbreaking report <em>State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet</em></h4><p><strong>Copenhagen</strong><strong>, Denmark</strong>&mdash;The Worldwatch Institute today announces the opening of its first European office in Copenhagen. The opening will be celebrated at a major event starting today at 14:00 in downtown Copenhagen. More than 120 guests, including prominent researchers, policy makers, business leaders and press, have registered for the event.</p><p>The opening coincides with the release of the 27th annual edition of Worldwatch&rsquo;s flagship publication, <em>State of the World</em>. The event features a policy debate on Europe&rsquo;s role in developing and establishing sustainable agriculture practices, with the goal of creating a healthier global food system.</p><p>Worldwatch Europe will represent the formal extension of the Institute&rsquo;s research and project activities into the European policy sphere. Bo Normander, Director of Worldwatch Europe says: <em>&ldquo;By expanding our research base into Europe, we aim to deliver these types of insights and to inform more environmentally sustainable decision-making across the European Union.&rdquo;</em></p><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;"><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Photo opportunity</strong><br />
<br />
Tree huggers will welcome all guests at the launch event today. The event includes prominent speakers such as Elsebeth Krogh, Chairwoman of ActionAid Denmark; Hans Herren, President of the Millennium Institute; Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency; and Christopher Flavin, President of the Worldwatch Institute.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />
<br />
<strong>Release of State of the World 2011</strong></p><p>This year&rsquo;s <em>State of the World 2011 </em>report:<em>Innovations that Nourish the Planet,</em> spotlights successful agricultural innovations and unearths major successes in preventing food waste, building resilience to climate change, and strengthening farming in cities. The report provides a roadmap for increased agricultural investment and more-efficient ways to alleviate global hunger and poverty.</p><p><em>&ldquo;The progress showcased through this report will inform governments, policymakers, NGOs, and donors that seek to curb hunger and poverty, providing a clear roadmap for expanding or replicating these successes elsewhere,&rdquo;</em>says Worldwatch President Christopher Flavin.</p><p>Drawing from the world&rsquo;s leading agricultural experts and from hundreds of innovations that are already working on the ground, <em>State of the World 2011</em> outlines proven, environmentally sustainable prescriptions for decreasing malnutrition, improving yields, and increasing farmers&rsquo; incomes.</p><p>Worldwatch&#39;s Director of the Nourishing the Planet program Danielle Nierenberg, who recently spent 15 months conducting on-the-ground research in over 25 countries across Africa, will also speak at the launch. She will present key findings from the report, including a roadmap for agricultural investment for top donor countries in successful projects that can prevent food waste, build resilience to climate change, and strengthen farming in cities.</p><p><strong>Global food security initiatives</strong></p><p><em>State of the World 2011</em>comes at a time when many global hunger and food security initiatives&mdash;such as the Obama administration&rsquo;s Feed the Future program, the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)&mdash;can benefit from new insight into environmentally sustainable projects that are already working.</p><p>Investment in agricultural development by governments, international lenders, and foundations has risen in recent years but is still nowhere near what is needed to help the 925 million people worldwide who remain undernourished. In 2008, $1.7 billion in official development assistance was provided to support agricultural projects in Africa, a miniscule amount given the vital return on investment. Under current global economic conditions, investments are not likely to increase in the coming year. Much of the more recently pledged funding has yet to be raised, and existing funding is not being targeted efficiently to reach the poor farmers of Africa.</p><p><em>&ldquo;The international community has been neglecting entire segments of the food system in its efforts to reduce hunger and poverty,&rdquo;</em>said Nierenberg, co-director of Worldwatch&rsquo;s Nourishing the Planet project (<a href="http://www.nourishingtheplanet.org/">www.NourishingthePlanet.org</a>). <em>&ldquo;The solutions won&rsquo;t necessarily come from producing more food, but from changing what children eat in schools, how foods are processed and marketed, and what sorts of food businesses we are investing in.&rdquo; </em></p><p>Serving locally raised crops to school children, for example, has proven to be an effective hunger- and poverty-reducing strategy in many African nations, and has strong parallels to successful farm-to-cafeteria programs in the United States and Europe. Moreover, &ldquo;roughly 40 percent of the food currently produced worldwide is wasted before it is consumed, creating large opportunities for farmers and households to save both money and resources by reducing this waste,&rdquo; according to Brian Halweil, Nourishing the Planet co-director.</p><p><strong>European tour</strong></p><p>Beginning with a 16-country European tour, the project&rsquo;s findings are being disseminated in over 20 languages to a wide range of agricultural stakeholders, including government ministries, agricultural policymakers, farmer and community networks, and the increasingly influential non-governmental environmental and development communities. The Copenhagen launch event kicked off both the European tour and Worldwatch&rsquo;s official entry into the European sphere.&nbsp;</p><p align="center">###</p><p><strong><u>Notes to Editors:&nbsp; </u></strong></p><p>The full programme for the Copenhagen launch event is attached to this document.</p><p><strong><u>About the Worldwatch Institute:</u></strong></p><p>Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s <em>State of the World</em> report is published annually in more than 20 languages. For more information, visit <a href="../../">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p><strong><u>For review copies of <em>State of the World 2011</em>:</u></strong></p><p>Contact Amanda Stone at <a href="mailto:astone@worldwatch.org">astone@worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p><strong><u>Press contacts:</u></strong><br />
Ann Sophie Friis and Xenia Trier, <a href="mailto:europe@worldwatch.org">europe@worldwatch.org</a> or Tel. (+45) 3336 7187 (in Europe)</p><p>Amanda Stone, <a href="mailto:astone@worldwatch.org">astone@worldwatch.org</a> or(+1) 202-452-1999 x514 (in U.S.)</p><p><strong><u>Purchasing information:</u></strong></p><p><em>State of the World 2011</em>sells for $19.95 + shipping &amp; handling / &pound;14.99 + P&amp;P.</p><ul><li>It can be purchased via the Worldwatch website at <a href="../../sow11">http://www.worldwatch.org/sow11</a>, by e-mailing <a href="mailto:wwpub@worldwatch.org">wwpub@worldwatch.org</a>, by calling toll-free (+1) 877-539-9946 (in the U.S.) or (+1) 301-747-2340 (from overseas), or by faxing (+1) 301-567-9553 with ISBN number 9780393338805.</li></ul><ul><li>See <a href="../../">www.worldwatch.org </a>for information about editions in other languages.</li></ul><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=kIKxDQMSJ_k:I1kAFTgMJ_g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=kIKxDQMSJ_k:I1kAFTgMJ_g:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=kIKxDQMSJ_k:I1kAFTgMJ_g:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=kIKxDQMSJ_k:I1kAFTgMJ_g:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/kIKxDQMSJ_k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>biodiversityclimate changeconservationcrop diversitydeforestationdesertificationeducationenvironmentalismEuropean Unionfactory farmingfisheriesfood aidfood securitygenderglobal securityglobal warmingglobalizationhuman rightshungermedianatural resource managementnutritionorganic agriculturepesticidespovertyseafoodsoilsub-Saharan Africasustainable agricultureurban agricultureFood & Agriculturepress roomNewsThu, 24 Feb 2011 19:24:25 +0000Amanda Stone7741 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/first-worldwatch-europe-branch-opens-copenhagenWorldwatch Institute Europe Closes, Worldwatch in DC Continues Workhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/jeHf4D3e6ZE/worldwatch-institute-europe-closes-worldwatch-dc-continues-work-1
<!--paging_filter--><h1>&nbsp;</h1><h1><em style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, &quot;Bitstream Vera Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">After five years of crafting environmental strategies for European decision-makers, Worldwatch Institute Europe closes its doors. Worldwatch Institute in the United States continues its work.</em></h1><p><strong>Copenhagen</strong>&mdash;Following a five-year run of communicating sustainability concepts to European decision-makers and the public to accelerate the movement toward an environmentally sustainable society, the Worldwatcth Institute Europe (WWIE) has ceased operations at the end of January, the Institute&rsquo;s Board of Directors announced.</p><p>The organization&rsquo;s affiliated organization in the United States, the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, is unaffected by this decision. Worldwatch will continue its work on sustainability, which reaches a European audience along with others around the world. The two organizations are independent financially and legally but otherwise affiliated, with past and current Worldwatch executives on WWIE&rsquo;s board. Worldwatch Europe, founded in 2011, is registered as a Danish non-profit organization, while the Worldwatch Institute in Washington was registered in the United States in 1974.</p><p>The WWIE Board expressed approval with the European Institute&rsquo;s accomplishments and thanked the many staffers and volunteered who carried its work forward over the years. Despite a number of grant-supported projects completed, income fell short of needs to sustain ongoing research in recent years, the Board said. The Institute will close with no outstanding debt. Followers of its work are encouraged to continue to follow the work of Worldwatch in the United States via its website, <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p>&ldquo;Many people were involved in building and running WWIE. Most of them worked for no or only a humble salary. Everyone worked for many hours to meet their own high standards,&rdquo; says Dan Boding-Jensen, Chairman of the Board of directors. &ldquo;Thanks for sharing the ambition of empowering European decision makers to create an environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs.&rdquo;</p><p>WWIE achieved many results, among which the most important was influencing new areas such as the living city, the circular economy, and involving children in reintroducing nature in the urban living environment.</p><p>A special thanks to partners, including the Velux Foundation, Norden, Europanævnet, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, and the Cowi Foundation, for funding many of our projects. Finally, thank you to the Worldwatch Institute staff and board in the United States for their technical support, advice, and enthusiastic support over the years.</p><p><strong>We invite you to continue following Worldwatch&rsquo;s work by subscribing to the Worldwatch Institute (US) <a href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=bfd6o5dab&amp;p=oi&amp;m=1103755119777&amp;sit=iy7ywdofb&amp;f=186c5513-e546-4693-90af-b1d36d9d2101">newsletter</a> or following our work on </strong><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WorldwatchInst">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Worldwatch">Twitter</a>.</strong></p><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>&nbsp;END<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</span></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><strong style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong><span style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&#39;s&nbsp;</span><em style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">State of the World</em><span style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;report is published annually in multiple languages (<a alt="http://www.worldwatch.org" href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" shape="rect" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>).</span></span></div><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=jeHf4D3e6ZE:AyfY03OIWd8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=jeHf4D3e6ZE:AyfY03OIWd8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=jeHf4D3e6ZE:AyfY03OIWd8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=jeHf4D3e6ZE:AyfY03OIWd8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/jeHf4D3e6ZE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>aboutpress roomNewsTue, 31 Jan 2017 21:36:44 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14949 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/worldwatch-institute-europe-closes-worldwatch-dc-continues-work-1MEDIA ADVISORY: Worldwatch Presents Findings Assessing Evidence Linking Family Planning and Environmental Sustainabilityhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/lBp6VMZBMC0/media-advisory-worldwatch-presents-findings-assessing-evidence-linking-family-planning-and-environ-0
<!--paging_filter--><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK4" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="HeadlineContent HeadlineText" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 18pt;" valign="top"><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>MEDIA ADVISORY</b></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Worldwatch Presents Findings Assessing Evidence Linking Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="CC_Divider" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px auto;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="DividerPadding" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; height: 1px; line-height: 1px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: left; height: 1px;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#666666" class="DividerHeight DividerBGColor" colspan="1" height="1" rowspan="1" style="padding-bottom: 0px; height: 1px; background-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="SpacerHeight" colspan="1" height="1" rowspan="1" style="padding-bottom: 9px; height: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK20" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="Content MainText" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" valign="top"><div class="MainText" style="font-size: 11pt;"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><b>Media Contact:</b></div><div align="right" style="text-align: right;">Gaelle Gourmelon</div><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Phone: +1 (202) 745-8092 x 510</span></div><div align="right" style="text-align: right;">E-mail: ggourmelon@worldwatch.org<br />&nbsp;</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK6" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="Content" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(55, 55, 55);" valign="top"><div><div style="font-size: 10pt;"><div><div><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong style="font-size: 10pt;">WHAT:</strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px;">&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Wilson Center is hosting the Worldwatch Institute&#39;s Robert Engelman as he presents the findings of the Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability Assessment (FPESA). The FPESA team has found that there is an active search for a greater understanding of the link between family planning and the environment by a diverse field of researchers, women and men from developed and developing countries alike. There is not yet a &quot;smoking gun&quot; that definitively proves family planning is critical for environmental sustainability, but there is mounting evidence for the link.</span></span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>WHEN:&nbsp;</b></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px;">&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wednesday, June 29, 2016 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Reception to follow.</span></span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>WHO:&nbsp;</strong></span></span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Robert Engelman</strong><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Senior Fellow, Worldwatch Institute</span></span></span></div><div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Alaka Basu</strong><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Senior Fellow, UN Foundation</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Cat Lazaroff</strong><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Managing Program Director, Resource Media</span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 30px;">&nbsp;</div><div><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>WHERE:</strong></span></span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Wilson Center</strong></span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ronald Reagan Building and&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 10pt;">International Trade Center</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">One Woodrow Wilson Plaza</span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">1300 Pennsylvania, Ave., NW</span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Washington, D.C. 20004</span></span></div></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b style="font-size: 10pt;">WHY:&nbsp;</b></span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-left: 30px;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">There is a growing support within the environmental and reproductive health communities for the idea that expanding access to family planning services contributes to environmental sustainability, but how strong is the evidence? A team of researchers from around the world led by the Worldwatch Institute&#39;s Robert Engelman has tackled this question to find out what we know for sure and where further research will be valuable.</span></span></span><br />&nbsp;</div></div></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>&nbsp;END<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="CC_Divider" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin: 0px auto;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="DividerPadding" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; height: 1px; line-height: 1px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: left; height: 1px;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#666666" class="DividerHeight DividerBGColor" colspan="1" height="1" rowspan="1" style="padding-bottom: 0px; height: 1px; background-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK11" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="Content MainText" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong>Notes to Editors:</strong>&nbsp;To schedule interviews or to obtain a complimentary electronic copy of&nbsp;<em>Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability: Assessing the Science</em>, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at ggourmelon@worldwatch.org or (202) 745-8092 x 510.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="SpacerHeight" colspan="1" height="1" rowspan="1" style="padding-bottom: 9px; height: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=lBp6VMZBMC0:asGDL21zTj0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=lBp6VMZBMC0:asGDL21zTj0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=lBp6VMZBMC0:asGDL21zTj0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=lBp6VMZBMC0:asGDL21zTj0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/lBp6VMZBMC0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>aboutEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsTue, 28 Jun 2016 21:30:16 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14834 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/media-advisory-worldwatch-presents-findings-assessing-evidence-linking-family-planning-and-environ-0Evidence Links Family Planning with Improved Environmental Outcomeshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/trqJ9WFJg9k/evidence-links-family-planning-improved-environmental-outcomes
<!--paging_filter--><table bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="InnerBGColor" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="EmailContainer" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 0px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK20" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="Content MainText" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" valign="top"><div class="MainText" style="font-size: 11pt;"><div align="left"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></div><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><b>Media Contact:</b></div><div align="right" style="text-align: right;">Gaelle Gourmelon</div><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Phone: +1 (202) 745-8092 x 510</span></div><div align="right" style="text-align: right;">E-mail: ggourmelon@worldwatch.org<br />&nbsp;</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="SpacerHeight" colspan="1" height="1" rowspan="1" style="padding-bottom: 9px; height: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="CC_Divider" style="text-align: left; margin: 0px auto;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="DividerPadding" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; height: 1px; line-height: 1px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: left; height: 1px;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#666666" class="DividerHeight DividerBGColor" colspan="1" height="1" rowspan="1" style="padding-bottom: 0px; height: 1px; background-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK24" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="Content" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(55, 55, 55);" valign="top"><div style="font-size: 11pt;"><div><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; font-size: 11pt;">A collaborative international assessment of hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific papers published since 2005 finds significant, albeit indirect, evidence that access to voluntary family planning can contribute to an environmentally sustainable world (fpesa.net).</span></div><div style="font-size: 11pt;"><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">Among more than 900 peer-reviewed scientific papers published since 2005, the Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability Assessment (FPESA), a project of the Worldwatch Institute, found data and researchers&#39; conclusions suggesting that:</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;"><ul><li style="text-indent: 0in;">Major reductions in unintended pregnancies<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span>now accounting for two out of five pregnancies worldwide<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span>would lower birth rates in high-consuming and low-consuming countries alike.</li></ul></div><div style="text-indent: 0in;"><ul><li style="text-indent: 0in;">Achieving a low trajectory of world population growth could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the first half of the 21stcentury to an extent comparable to eliminating all deforestation.</li></ul></div><ul><li style="text-indent: 0in;">Greater use of family planning would facilitate more participation by women in economic activity and in civil society, which could improve environmental outcomes locally and globally.</li></ul><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&quot;Linking environmental benefits to family planning can be controversial, since the use of family planning is<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span>and should always be<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span>a private choice that people make for their own reasons,&quot; noted Robert Engelman, former President of the Worldwatch Institute, who directed the FPESA project. &quot;Yet demonstrated synergies between the two might help advance both environmental sustainability and access to family planning for those who want it. Our objective has been to see what the scientific literature has to say about the connection and to assess the evidence base.&quot;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">Through collaborative evaluation of 939 papers, identified through expert interviews and database searches, the FPESA project collectively ranked 112 papers as &quot;certainly relevant&quot; to the hypothesis that family planning benefits the environment, with another 302 ranked as &quot;probably relevant.&quot; (Relevant papers might either support or undermine the hypothesis.) The bulk of the &quot;certainly relevant&quot; papers lend support to the hypothesis, with a few papers somewhat undermining it but none directly countering it. A conceptual framework guiding the evaluation included both slower population growth and the empowerment of women as pathways through which family planning might contribute positively to environmental sustainability.</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">The project team and a network of international researchers collaborating in the assessment share a commitment to the human rights foundation of family planning as a choice for couples and individuals alone in deciding if and when to have a child. The group identified no research suggesting that a weakening of this foundation would make any contribution to sustainability.</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">A comprehensive report on the project&#39;s findings to date<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span><i>Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability: Assessing the Science</i><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span>will be launched on June 29 at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, D.C. The report includes an annotated bibliography and assessments of the 50 papers that are most compelling and relevant to the hypothesis.</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">No research discipline directly explores the hypothesis that family planning contributes to environmental sustainability. Not surprisingly, scientific papers making this connection proved to be scarce. A high proportion of the reviewed papers that were found to be relevant to the hypothesis, however, assert or demonstrate an influence of population size, growth, or resource demands on the environment. A smaller proportion of the reviewed papers lend credence to the idea that women who are able to make their own reproductive choices are more likely to contribute to environmental sustainability through consumption choices or participation in politics and civil society.</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">The assessment also explored a secondary hypothesis: that research interest in the family planning--environmental sustainability linkage is widespread among women and men in developing as well as developed countries.</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&quot;That hypothesis, we feel, is fully confirmed,&quot; Engelman said, based on the diversity of the project&#39;s network of research assessors and on the high proportions of relevant paper authors who are women and/or are from developing countries. &quot;Given high levels of interest in the potential contribution of family planning to the environment, and the importance of the linkage for both sustainability and reproductive health and rights, more research<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span>and funding for it<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; letter-spacing: -2px;">----&nbsp;</span>is critically needed, especially for young researchers and those in developing countries.&quot;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">The assessment team consists of Engelman, now a Senior Fellow at Worldwatch, and Research Assistant Yeneneh Girma Terefe, along with several consultants and an active network of 16 research assessors. Seven assessors are women, while 13 work in or are from developing countries. Articles by some consultants and assessors are included in the report. The consultants were Vicky Markham, Kenneth R. Weiss, and Sam Sellers. Network assessors were Edward Amankwah, Alaka Basu, Wanangwa Chimwaza-Manda, Samuel Nii Ardrey Codjoe, Javiera Fanta, Bhola R. Gurjar, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Hafiz T.A. Khan, Zena Lyaga, Wilkister Nyaora Moturi, Casianes Olilo, Margaret Perkins, Muhammad Abdur Rahaman, Sam Sellers, Dirk Van Braeckel, and Samson Wasao.</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">For additional findings from the project and assessments of specific papers, visit<a alt="http://fpesa.net/" href="http://fpesa.net/" shape="rect" target="_blank">fpesa.net</a>.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">* * *</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>About FPESA</b></div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">The Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability Assessment (FPESA), a project of the Worldwatch Institute, is surveying the field of health and environmental research for well-documented and evaluated data shedding light on how the use of family planning might relate to climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable water supply and food production, the maintenance of biological diversity, the future of forests and fisheries, and more. Learn more at&nbsp;<a alt="http://www.fpesa.net/" href="http://www.fpesa.net/" shape="rect" target="_blank">fpesa.net</a>.</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>About Worldwatch</b></div><div style="text-indent: 0in;">Founded in 1974 by farmer and economist Lester Brown, the Worldwatch Institute was the first independent research institute devoted to the analysis of global environmental concerns. Worldwatch quickly became recognized by opinion leaders around the world for its accessible, fact-based analysis of critical global issues. Over 40 years later, Worldwatch continues to develop innovative solutions to intractable problems, emphasizing a blend of government leadership, private sector enterprise, and citizen action that can make a sustainable future a reality. Learn more at&nbsp;<a alt="http://www.worldwatch.org/" href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" shape="rect" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="SpacerHeight" colspan="1" height="1" rowspan="1" style="padding-bottom: 9px; height: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" style="display: block; height: 1px; width: 5px;" vspace="0" width="5" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table bgcolor="#666666" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="FooterBGColor" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="BottomEmailContainer" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 10px 0px;" valign="top" width="100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK27" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="Content MainText" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 20px 9px; color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" valign="top"><div style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Gaelle Gourmelon | Worldwatch Institute | +1 (202) 745-8092 x 510 | ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK28" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="SocialMediaPadding" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 8px 0px 9px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" valign="top" width="100%"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="CC_NoEdit" style="text-align: left; margin: 0px;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 0px 0px 10px;" valign="center"><div style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>STAY CONNECTED:</strong></div></td></tr><tr><td align="center" colspan="1" rowspan="1" valign="center"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="CC_NoEdit" style="text-align: left; margin: 0px;" width="1"><tbody><tr><td align="center" class="SocialMediaIcon" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 0px 5px;" valign="center"><a alt="https://www.facebook.com/WorldwatchInst" href="https://www.facebook.com/WorldwatchInst" linktype="facebook" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><img alt="Like us on Facebook" border="0" height="22" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/ui/images1/ic_fbk_22.png" title="Like us on Facebook" width="22" /></a></td><td align="center" class="SocialMediaIcon" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 0px 5px;" valign="center"><a alt="https://twitter.com/Worldwatch" href="https://twitter.com/Worldwatch" linktype="twitter" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><img alt="Follow us on Twitter" border="0" height="22" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/ui/images1/ic_twit_22.png" title="Follow us on Twitter" width="22" /></a></td><td align="center" class="SocialMediaIcon" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 0px 5px;" valign="center"><a alt="https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldwatch-institute" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldwatch-institute" linktype="linkedin" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><img alt="View our profile on LinkedIn" border="0" height="22" src="https://static.ctctcdn.com/ui/images1/ic_lkdin_22.png" title="View our profile on LinkedIn" width="22" /></a></td><td align="center" class="SocialMediaIcon" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="padding: 0px 5px;" valign="center">&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=trqJ9WFJg9k:BgfiS8xrM9c:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=trqJ9WFJg9k:BgfiS8xrM9c:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=trqJ9WFJg9k:BgfiS8xrM9c:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=trqJ9WFJg9k:BgfiS8xrM9c:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/trqJ9WFJg9k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>populationEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsTue, 28 Jun 2016 21:28:15 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14833 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/evidence-links-family-planning-improved-environmental-outcomesHundreds of Cities Commit to Combating Emissionshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/KeRXOWh-104/hundreds-cities-commit-combating-emissions-0
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">PRESS RELEASE | Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=Press%20Inquiry%3A%20Can%20a%20City%20Be%20Sustainable%3F">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For release: Tuesday, June 7, 2016</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/http%3A/%252Fwww.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-can-city-be-sustainable-2016" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/SOW2016_0.jpg" style="height: 322px; width: 250px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong style="line-height: 16.8px;">Notes to Editors</strong><span style="line-height: 16.8px;">: To schedule interviews or to obtain a review copy of </span><em style="line-height: 16.8px;">Can a City Be Sustainable?</em><span style="line-height: 16.8px;">, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at </span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.8px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.8px;">.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><div>&nbsp;</div><div><strong><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">Through bold climate commitments, 228 cities around the world are taking the lead on climate action&nbsp;</em></strong></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em; letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em;">-</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Over 200 cities have set greenhouse gas reduction goals or targets. Action in these cities, which represent a combined population of 439 million people, could propel countries to meet their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)&mdash;the national greenhouse gas reduction pledges embodied in the Paris Agreement. According to </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">Can a City Be Sustainable?</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">, the latest edition of the annual </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">series from the Worldwatch Institute, cities and their inhabitants are playing a lead role in achieving global climate action goals (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></div><p>&ldquo;The challenge over the next several decades is an enormous one,&rdquo; write Michael Renner and Tom Prugh, contributing authors and co-directors of the report. &ldquo;This requires not change around the edges, but a fundamental restructuring of how cities operate, how much they consume in resources and how much waste they produce, what they look like, and how they are structured.&rdquo;</p><p>Growing numbers of cities have pledged themselves to climate commitments and sustainability goals. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group has expanded to over 80 cities. The Compact of Mayors, launched at the 2014 United Nations Climate Summit, is the largest coalition of city leaders addressing climate change. ICLEI&ndash;Local Governments for Sustainability works with more than 1,000 cities around the world.</p><p>Cities today host more than half of the earth&rsquo;s human beings and represent about 70 percent of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. If trends continue, urban populations are expected to increase to 6 billion by 2045, at which point two-thirds of all people will live in urban environments. &ldquo;If current trends in urbanization continue unabated, urban energy use will more than triple, compared to 2005 levels, by 2050,&rdquo; write Renner and Prugh.</p><p>It is no surprise that cities collectively account for a large share of greenhouse gas emissions, because they concentrate economic activity. But cities vary widely in their per capita emissions. Rotterdam in the Netherlands, for example, emitted 29.8 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent per capita in 2005, whereas Paris emitted just 5.2 tons per capita. Many variables, such as climate, urban form, and primary energy source, affect a city&rsquo;s level of emissions. Economic factors, such as the wealth and income of residents and the level and structure of economic activity, also play a major role.</p><p>&ldquo;Only demand-side policies that succeed in sharply reducing energy consumption in transport, buildings, waste handling, and agriculture can address the urgent need to decarbonize energy,&rdquo; write Renner and Prugh. &ldquo;It is cities that must step up to the front lines of that battle.&rdquo;</p><p>In conjunction with policy changes, cities&rsquo; success will depend on having both comprehensive data and financial support. Current protocols, such as one developed by the World Resources Institute, C40 Cities, and ICLEI, can be used to measure or estimate greenhouse gas emissions in cities worldwide. Financing sustainability in cities may be easier in some cities than in others. Among the C40 cities, only three-quarters have budgetary control over property or municipal taxes. In poorer cities, multilateral development banks and a variety of donors may play an important role.</p><p>Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s <em>Can a City Be Sustainable? (State of the World)</em> examines the core principles of sustainable urbanism and profiles cities that are putting them into practice.</p><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div>&nbsp;</div></div><div align="center" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>&nbsp;END<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><strong style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong><span style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&#39;s&nbsp;</span><em style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">State of the World</em><span style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;report is published annually in multiple languages (<a alt="http://www.worldwatch.org" href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" shape="rect" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>).</span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=KeRXOWh-104:PDNdTDoUob8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=KeRXOWh-104:PDNdTDoUob8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=KeRXOWh-104:PDNdTDoUob8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=KeRXOWh-104:PDNdTDoUob8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/KeRXOWh-104" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changeclimate treatyenergy intensityglobal warmingPressrenewable energyClimate & EnergyEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsMon, 06 Jun 2016 20:33:14 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14825 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/hundreds-cities-commit-combating-emissions-0Cities Hold the Key to a Livable Futurehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/0OB6jM6YJQA/cities-hold-key-livable-future
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">PRESS RELEASE | Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=Press%20Inquiry%3A%20Can%20a%20City%20Be%20Sustainable%3F">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For release: Tuesday, May 10, 2016</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/http%3A/%252Fwww.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-can-city-be-sustainable-2016" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/SOW2016_0.jpg" style="height: 322px; width: 250px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong style="line-height: 16.8px;">Notes to Editors</strong><span style="line-height: 16.8px;">: To schedule interviews or to obtain a review copy of </span><em style="line-height: 16.8px;">Can a City Be Sustainable?</em><span style="line-height: 16.8px;">, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at </span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.8px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.8px;">.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><div>&nbsp;</div><div><strong><em>Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s </em>Vital Signs<em> exposes latest global peaks of production and consumption, as&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.4em;">well as associated impacts</span></em></strong></div><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em; letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em;">-</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(55, 55, 55);">Today, nearly 3.9 billion people<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>half of the world&#39;s population<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>live in urban areas. By 2050 that number is expected to nearly double. According to&nbsp;<em>Can a City Be Sustainable? (State of the World)</em>, the latest edition of the annual series from the Worldwatch Institute, there is no question cities will continue to grow; the only debate is over how (www.worldwatch.org).&nbsp;</span></p><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em;">&quot;Cities are at a crossroads, confronting historic challenges posed by rising populations, accelerating climate change, increasing inequity, and</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em; letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em; font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em;">all too often</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em; letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em; font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.4em;">faltering livability,&quot; writes Eduardo da Costa Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro.</span></div><br /><div>Cities have voracious appetites for energy, accounting for about three-quarters of the world&#39;s direct final energy use in 2005<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>far more than their 49 percent share of global population that year. Cities today must also deal with growing stress on raw material supplies. Extraction of metals, minerals, and fuels is increasingly complex now that the easiest sources have been tapped. A city&#39;s food system<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>the production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste of its food<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>has impacts that extend to a city&#39;s host region and country, and often to other countries as well.</div><br /><div>&quot;As rural migrants to cities adopt city-based lifestyles, they tend to use more resources as their incomes rise and as their diets shift from starchy staples to a greater share of animal products and processed foods,&quot; writes Tom Prugh, author and co-director of the report. This, in turn, puts natural systems<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>either in the migrants&#39; own countries or in other countries that export products or their inputs<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>under strain.</div><br /><div>However, cities today are also in an exciting position to take leadership on the effort to build sustainable economies.&nbsp;</div><br /><div>&quot;People care about their cities and often are motivated to protect and improve their urban homes,&quot; says Gary Gardner, author and co-director of&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>. &quot;Cities can harness that passion to help advance a sustainability agenda, perhaps more easily than national governments or corporations can.&quot;</div><br /><div>Perhaps the biggest single step that cities can take toward a sustainable future is to create economies that greatly reduce materials use, (re)circulate most materials, and rely largely on renewable energy. &quot;Green infrastructure&quot;<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>the use of natural areas to provide economic services<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>can also help cities avoid building costly new water management facilities, can recharge aquifers, and can provide flood protection. Ensuring that decision-making is transparent and participatory ensures that no community is left behind.&nbsp;</div><br /><div>&quot;Building on the new hope created by the breakthrough agreement on climate action achieved in Paris last December, cities stand ready to engage their citizens in building a sustainable future,&quot; writes Mayor Paes.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;</div></div><div align="center" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-size: 10pt;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span>&nbsp;END<span style="letter-spacing: -2px;">----</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">-</span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt;"><span color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><strong style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong><span style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&#39;s&nbsp;</span><em style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">State of the World</em><span style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-size: 13.3333px; background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;report is published annually in multiple languages (<a alt="http://www.worldwatch.org" href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" shape="rect" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>).</span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</div><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt;"><div>&nbsp;</div><div><strong>About Island Press:</strong> Founded in 1984, Island Press works to stimulate, shape, and communicate the information that is essential for solving environmental problems. Island Press is driving change by moving ideas from the printed page to public discourse and practice. Island Press&rsquo;s emphasis is, and will continue to be, on transforming objective information into understanding and action (<a href="http://www.islandpress.org">www.islandpress.org</a>).</div></div><div style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=0OB6jM6YJQA:imKMvW8OE0Y:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=0OB6jM6YJQA:imKMvW8OE0Y:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=0OB6jM6YJQA:imKMvW8OE0Y:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=0OB6jM6YJQA:imKMvW8OE0Y:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/0OB6jM6YJQA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changedeforestationelectricity productionemissions reductionsenergy efficiencyenergy intensityfossil fuelsglobal warminggovernancePressrenewable energyClimate & EnergyEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsMon, 16 May 2016 14:07:07 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14812 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/cities-hold-key-livable-futureFirst-Ever Sustainable Energy Roadmap for the Caribbean Launchedhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/gcS1drMokdI/first-ever-sustainable-energy-roadmap-caribbean-launched
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">PRESS RELEASE</strong><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;| Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=SOW%202014%20inquiry">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For immediate release</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/cserms/baseline-report" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/C-SERMS CARICOM roadmap cover_0.png" style="line-height: 14.4px; width: 250px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; height: 322px;" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/cserms/baseline-report"><strong>Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) Baseline Report and Assessment</strong></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>Notes to Editors</u>:&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">For more information: </strong><span style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">To download a free copy of the&nbsp;</span><em>Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) Baseline Report and Assessment<em style="line-height: 14.4px;">&nbsp;</em></em><span style="line-height: 14.4px;">visit </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/cserms/baseline-report" style="line-height: 14.4px;" target="_blank"><b>here&nbsp;</b></a><span style="line-height: 14.4px;">or contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 14.4px;"><strong>ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</strong></a><span style="line-height: 14.4px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>About the Worldwatch Institute:&nbsp;</strong>Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. Worldwatch Institute delivers the insights and ideas that empower decision makers to create an environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Transparent GIF (for powerpoints).gif" style="width: 200px; height: 61px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p>&nbsp;</p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p align="center"><em>Worldwatch Institute study suggests CARICOM-wide energy and climate targets and outlines strategies and initiatives for achieving them</em></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has received recommendations for reaching an ambitious regional target of 48% renewable energy generation by 2027. The </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/cserms/baseline-report" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><em>Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) Baseline Report and Assessment</em></a><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">, </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">released today by the Worldwatch Institute, also suggests a 33% reduction in the region&rsquo;s energy intensity. Achieving these sustainable energy goals would result in a 46% decrease in carbon dioxide emissions over the period. The report details a work program of Priority Initiatives, Policies, Projects, and Activities (PIPPAs) as concrete steps for achieving these ambitious but feasible objectives. Supporting the full report are two slide decks visualizing the report&rsquo;s </span><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/GaelleWorldwatch/caribbean-sustainable-energy-roadmap-and-strategy-cserms-baseline-report-and-assessment-main-findings" style="line-height: 1.4em;">main findings</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> as well as the </span><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/GaelleWorldwatch/energy-situation-of-caricom-member-countries" style="line-height: 1.4em;">energy situations of individual CARICOM Member States</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.</span></p><p>&ldquo;A month before the milestone United Nations climate summit in Paris, and on the day of the launch of the Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, this report leads the way for CARICOM and its Member States to become global sustainable energy leaders,&rdquo; says Alexander Ochs, Director of Climate and Energy at Worldwatch and lead author of the report. &ldquo;We were extremely excited two years ago when CARICOM Member States reviewed an early draft of this report at a Meeting of Energy Ministers and agreed on the preliminary goal of a 48% renewable electricity share. Today&rsquo;s updated and extended report adds energy efficiency and climate mitigation to the equation and is accessible to anyone in the region. It provides the analysis and tools necessary to realize the vision of an economically and environmentally sustainable Caribbean region.&rdquo;</p><p>Caribbean governments are increasingly aware of the enormous financial, environmental, and social costs associated with continued dependence on fossil fuels. Only one CARICOM Member State, Trinidad and Tobago, has substantial fossil fuel resources of its own. All others spend sizable shares of their gross domestic product&mdash;including at least a quarter of GDP in Guyana and Montserrat&mdash;on imported petroleum products. In Jamaica, the cost of electricity is four times that in the United States. And in Haiti and Suriname, large portions of the population still lack access to modern energy services.</p><p>These and other concerns have spurred a broad regional dialogue on improving energy security and independence, fostering sustainable economic growth, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the development and efficient use of local and renewable resources. CARICOM has aimed to provide guidance and support for Member States that are willing to transition to more sustainable energy systems. In 2013, the region reached a milestone when it adopted a regional energy policy&mdash;CARICOM&rsquo;s first region-wide agreement on joint energy goals&mdash;that included the preliminary 48% renewables target. This commitment has since been lauded by UN Secretary General Ban Ki&shy;‑Moon.</p><p>&ldquo;C‑SERMS is pivotal to the attainment of the sustainable energy and development goals of the Caribbean Community. CARICOM envisions that implementing the <em>C-SERMS Baseline Report and Assessment </em>advances regional goals whilst simultaneously supporting Member States,&rdquo; says Devon Gardner, Program Manager for Energy in the CARICOM Secretariat and Head of the CARICOM Energy Unit. &ldquo;All CARICOM Members have contributed to this Roadmap and the CARICOM Secretariat is excited to have this first in a series of assessments, which will provide guidance on the vision and strategy for building resilient energy systems within the region.&rdquo;</p><p>Established in 1973, CARICOM is a regional organization representing 15 Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Despite their diversity, CARICOM Member States, with a total population of over 17 million people, face many shared energy challenges.</p><p>For most Caribbean states, inefficient transmission and distribution networks, geographic remoteness, and steep topography increase the high costs of energy systems that rely on fuel imports. The loss of large shares of GDP to energy imports diverts large sums that otherwise could be invested domestically. As a consequence, national debts rise at the expense of a country&rsquo;s financial ratings, and high electricity tariffs discourage economic development and foreign investment well beyond the energy sector. Additionally, all CARICOM Member States share a particular vulnerability to the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of climate change, caused largely by the burning of fossil fuels. Impacts include sea-level rise, water scarcity, coral bleaching, and increased strength and frequency of tropical storms.</p><p>&ldquo;Caribbean countries are, and increasingly will be, affected greatly by the negative consequences of global climate change,&rdquo; says Ochs. &ldquo;They have a strong incentive to demonstrate to other countries that it is possible to reduce climate-altering emissions quickly. But even if the problem of global warming did not exist, and the burning of fossil fuels did not result in extensive local air and water pollution, CARICOM Member States would still have a mandate to transition away from these fuels as swiftly as possible, for reasons of social opportunity, economic competitiveness, and national security. They owe it to their people.&rdquo;</p><p>Significant renewable energy resources exist across the CARICOM region and have yet to be fully harnessed, including biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, waste-to-energy, and wind. There are also tremendous opportunities to dramatically improve energy efficiency. However, realizing these sustainable energy potentials in the region will require a robust and dynamic framework of policy and legislation that, so far, remains inadequate. Although all CARICOM Member States have national energy strategies in some stage of development or implementation, most of these lack a coherent long-term vision and concrete policies and measures. Efforts so far have been disjointed and incomplete, and they face a variety of technical, financial, institutional, and capacity barriers.</p><p>The <em>C-SERMS Baseline Report and Assessment</em> aims to serve as a key planning tool for tackling existing barriers and communicating priorities that allow for a swift transition toward sustainable energy systems in CARICOM Member States. Suggested PIPPAs range from coordinated regional fuel efficiency standards and targeted model legislation on net metering, to the development of regional generation technology risk mitigation funds and country-specific electric system modelling efforts. The report distinguishes actions to be taken at the regional or national levels, or both, and specifies the required timeframes. It also highlights three broad priority areas for future action: transportation, regional energy trade agreements, and the water-energy-food nexus.</p><p>&ldquo;Sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy can be provided throughout the Caribbean, and this report helps us see how,&rdquo; says Andreas Taeuber, leader of the&nbsp;Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance (<em>REETA</em>)&nbsp;project, which supports the CARICOM Energy Unit in fulfilling its political mandate. REETA is a project of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), which has supported the C-SERMS project and its <em>Baseline Report</em> from its inception.&nbsp;The Inter-American Development Bank also provided support for the project.</p><p>&ldquo;Through regional collaboration, CARICOM Member States have a tremendous opportunity to spearhead sustainable energy development region-wide,&rdquo; says Gardner. &ldquo;Full transformation of the region&rsquo;s energy sector will be a long-term process, requiring extensive and dedicated collaboration among Member States as well as regional and international actors. The regional approach outlined by C-SERMS ensures that no Member State will travel this path alone, but instead will be supported by a network of actors and institutions, united under a common vision for sustainability.&rdquo;</p><p>The <em>C-SERMS Baseline Report and Assessment</em> is the latest outcome of Worldwatch&rsquo;s longstanding and intensive engagement in the Caribbean and Central America. The Institute also recently published national sustainable energy roadmaps for the <a href="http://blogs.worldwatch.org/a-pathway-to-affordable-sustainable-energy-in-the-dominican-republic/">Dominican Republic</a>, <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/haiti-roadmap">Haiti</a>, and <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/worldwatch-institute-launches-groundbreaking-sustainable-energy-roadmap-jamaica">Jamaica</a>, as well as regional studies of <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/way-forward-renewable-energy-central-america">Central America</a> and <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/new-study-addresses-renewable-energy-market-barriers-latin-america-and-caribbean">Latin America and the Caribbean</a>.</p><p align="center">&mdash;END&mdash;</p><p><strong>For more information </strong>or to download a free copy of the <em>Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) Baseline Report and Assessment</em>, visit <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/cserms/baseline-report">www.worldwatch.org/cserms/baseline-report</a>or contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong>Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. Worldwatch Institute delivers the insights and ideas that empower decision makers to create an environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="margin-left:-.25in;"><span id="cke_bm_86E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span id="cke_bm_85E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span id="cke_bm_84E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span id="cke_bm_83E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="290" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/CR0zHCzCH6j1Df" style="line-height: 14.4px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;" width="340"></iframe></p><div style="margin-bottom:5px"><strong><a href="//www.slideshare.net/GaelleWorldwatch/caribbean-sustainable-energy-roadmap-and-strategy-cserms-baseline-report-and-assessment-main-findings" target="_blank" title="Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) Baseline Report and Assessment: Main Findings">Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) Baseline Report and Assessment: Main Findings</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="//www.slideshare.net/GaelleWorldwatch" target="_blank">Worldwatch Institute</a></strong></div><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="290" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/wytVUKODbYxvKK" style="border:1px solid #CCC; border-width:1px; margin-bottom:5px; max-width: 100%;" width="340"></iframe></p><div style="margin-bottom:5px"><strong><a href="//www.slideshare.net/GaelleWorldwatch/energy-situation-of-caricom-member-countries" target="_blank" title="Energy Situation of CARICOM Member Countries">Energy Situation of CARICOM Member Countries</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="//www.slideshare.net/GaelleWorldwatch" target="_blank">Worldwatch Institute</a></strong></div><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=gcS1drMokdI:vFFx5CB7CXQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=gcS1drMokdI:vFFx5CB7CXQ:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=gcS1drMokdI:vFFx5CB7CXQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=gcS1drMokdI:vFFx5CB7CXQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/gcS1drMokdI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>aboutClimate & Energypress roomNewsWed, 28 Oct 2015 12:08:01 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14734 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/first-ever-sustainable-energy-roadmap-caribbean-launchedLand “Grabbing” Grows as Agricultural Resources Dwindlehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/GsigqsBNn6c/land-%E2%80%9Cgrabbing%E2%80%9D-grows-agricultural-resources-dwindle
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><i>As global agricultural resources shrink or shift, countries are crossing border to obtain new farmlands</i></font></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | October 6</strong><strong style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Gardner_square.jpg" style="width: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><img alt="" src="/system/files/SOTW15cover-r06b_HiRes_3.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 198px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>State of the World 2015:</b></span></font></a></p><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia">Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability</font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Since 2000, more than 36 million hectares&mdash;an area about the size of Japan&mdash;has been purchased or leased by foreign entities, mostly for agricultural use. Today, nearly 15 million hectares more is under negotiation (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>&ldquo;Farmland is lost or degraded on every continent, while &lsquo;land grabbing&rsquo;&mdash;the purchase or lease of agricultural land by foreign interests&mdash;has emerged as a threat to food security in several countries,&rdquo; writes Gary Gardner, contributing author of the Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s <em>State of the World 2015: Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability</em>.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">About half of grabbed land is intended exclusively for use in agriculture, while another 25 percent is intended for a mix of agricultural and other uses. (The land that is not used for agriculture is often used for forestry.)&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Land grabbing has surged since 2005 in response to a food price crisis and the growing demand for biofuels in the United States and the European Union. Droughts in the United States, Argentina, and Australia, has further driven interest in land overseas.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&ldquo;Today, the FAO reports that essentially no additional suitable [agricultural] land remains in a belt around much of the middle of the planet,&rdquo; writes Gardner. As a result, the largest grabbers of land are often countries that need additional resources to meet growing demands.</span></p><p>Over half of the global grabbed land is in Africa, especially in water-rich countries like the Congo. Asia comes second, contributing over 6 million hectares, mainly from Indonesia. The largest area acquired from a single country is in Papua New Guinea, with nearly 4 million hectares (over 8 percent of the country&rsquo;s total land cover) sold or leased out.</p><p>The largest investor country is the United States, a country already rich in agricultural land. The United States alone has acquired about 7 million hectares worldwide. Malaysia comes in a distant second, with just over 3.5 million hectares acquired.</p><p>Land grabbing is precipitated by the growing challenges shaking the foundation of food production: the water, land, and climate that make crop growth possible. Globally, some 20 percent of aquifers are being pumped faster than they are recharged by rainfall, stressing many key food-producing areas. Land is becoming degraded through erosion and salinization or is getting paved for development. The changing climate is projected to cause a net decline of 0.2&ndash;2 percent in crop yields per decade over the remainder of the century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.</p><p>The dangers of land grabbing are evident. Large-scale purchases often do not consider the interests of smallholders who may have been working the land over a long period. Additionally, the transfer of resources from poorer countries to wealthier ones increases the vulnerability of the target countries that surrender their own access to land and water resources to foreign investors and governments.</p><p>&ldquo;As demand for agricultural goods increases, and as our planet&rsquo;s water and fertile land become more scarce and its atmosphere less stable, greater effort will be needed to conserve resources and to exploit opportunities for greater efficiency throughout the agricultural system,&rdquo; writes Gardner.</p><p>By preventing food waste, increasing water efficiency, conserving agricultural land, and decreasing production of meat and biofuels (both of which require large quantities of land and water for grain or crops), Gardner believes that the stress on food systems can be reduced. In addition, the international adoption of the right to food, already integrated in the constitutions of 28 countries, will ensure that food cannot be withheld for political reasons.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Worldwatch&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> investigates hidden threats to sustainability, including economic, political, and environmental challenges that are often underreported in the media. </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015 </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">highlights the need to develop resilience to looming shocks</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">. </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">For more information on the project, visit </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 1.4em;">http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=GsigqsBNn6c:Bv5jxEa1dCg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=GsigqsBNn6c:Bv5jxEa1dCg:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=GsigqsBNn6c:Bv5jxEa1dCg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=GsigqsBNn6c:Bv5jxEa1dCg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/GsigqsBNn6c" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changedesertificationfood securityglobal warminggrainhuman rightshungerland rightsPresswasteFood & Agriculturepress roomNewsTue, 06 Oct 2015 18:43:42 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14725 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/land-%E2%80%9Cgrabbing%E2%80%9D-grows-agricultural-resources-dwindleGlobal Consumption Trends Break New Recordshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/0YKb7uNujIM/global-consumption-trends-break-new-records
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">PRESS RELEASE | Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=SOW%202014%20inquiry">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For release: Tuesday, September 15, 2015</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/Vital-Signs-22" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/cover_VS22_2015_0.png" style="width: 250px; height: 331px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong>View the <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/VS22%20TIP%20SHEET.pdf" target="_blank">Tip Sheet here</a>.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>Notes to Editors</u>:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/Vital-Signs-22" target="_blank"><em style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Vital Signs, Volume 22</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><div>&nbsp;</div><div><strong><em>Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s </em>Vital Signs<em> exposes latest global peaks of production and consumption, as&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.4em;">well as associated impacts</span></em></strong></div><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">From coal to cars to coffee, consumption levels are breaking records. According to the Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s </span><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;"><em>Vital Signs, Volume 22</em></strong><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">: The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">, the acceleration of resource depletion, pollution, and climate change may come with underappreciated social and environmental costs (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>Drawing on a wide range of sources,&nbsp;<em>Vital Signs </em>shows trends related to today&rsquo;s often record-breaking levels of consumption by providing data and concise analyses of significant global trends in food and agriculture, population and society, and energy and climate.</p><p>&ldquo;Consumers often do not know the full footprint of the products they are buying, such as the embedded water in a t-shirt or steak, the pesticide exposure of cotton farmers, or the local devastation caused by timber companies cutting down forests to produce paper,&rdquo; says Michael Renner, <strong><em>Vital Signs</em></strong> Project Director.</p><p>The 24 trends tracked in <strong><em>Vital Signs</em></strong> illustrate these and other consequences of consumption on a scale never before experienced on Earth. With a global population of over 7 billion and growing, the need to preserve ecosystems is undeniable. Yet, for many products, the growth of consumption is reaching new levels:</p><ul><li>Global meat production has more than quadrupled in the last half century to over 308 million tons in 2013, bringing with it considerable environmental and health costs due to its large-scale draw on water, feedgrains, antibiotics, and grazing land.</li><li>Coffee production has doubled since the early 1960s. However, an estimated 25 million coffee growers worldwide are at the mercy of extreme price volatility.</li><li>For more than 50 years, global plastic production has continued to rise, with 299 million tons of plastics produced in 2013 alone. Recycling rates remain low, however, and the majority of plastics end up in landfills and oceans&mdash;polluting ecosystems, entangling wildlife, and blighting communities.</li><li>The world&rsquo;s fleet of automobiles now surpasses 1 billion, with each vehicle contributing greenhouse gases and reducing air quality.</li></ul><p><em><strong>Vital Signs, Volume 22</strong></em>&nbsp;presents these and other global trends and analyses of our planet and civilization. The book uses straightforward language and easy-to-read graphs to present each indicator.&nbsp;<strong><em>Vital Signs</em>&nbsp;</strong>is created as a guide to inform governments, businesses, teachers, and concerned citizens everywhere to make the changes needed to build a sustainable world.</p>&ldquo;Untrammeled consumerism lies at the heart of many of these challenges,&rdquo; writes Renner. &ldquo;As various articles in this edition of <em><strong>Vital Signs</strong></em> show, consumption choices matter greatly.&rdquo;<p align="center"><strong>&mdash; </strong><strong>END</strong><strong>&mdash;</strong></p><p><strong>About the Worldwatch Institute</strong>: Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World&nbsp;</em>report is published annually in multiple languages. <em>Vital Signs&nbsp;</em>tracks key trends in the environment, agriculture, energy, society, and the economy to inform and inspire the changes needed to build a sustainable world. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p align="center">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>About Island Press</strong>: Founded in 1984, Island Press works to stimulate, shape, and communicate the information that is essential for solving environmental problems. Island Press is driving change by moving ideas from the printed page to public discourse and practice. Island Press&rsquo;s emphasis is, and will continue to be, on transforming objective information into understanding and action. For more information and further updates, be sure to check out&nbsp;<a href="http://www.islandpress.org/">www.islandpress.org</a>.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=0YKb7uNujIM:nOdzUi6tEEY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=0YKb7uNujIM:nOdzUi6tEEY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=0YKb7uNujIM:nOdzUi6tEEY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=0YKb7uNujIM:nOdzUi6tEEY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/0YKb7uNujIM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>aboutclimate treatycoalconsumerismcrop diversityelectricity productionenvironmentalismfood securityglobal warminggovernancegraingreen jobshungernatural gasoilpopulationpovertyPressrenewable energysolar powertransportationVital SignsVital Signs, Vital Signs OnlineClimate & EnergyEnvironment & SocietyFood & Agriculturepress roomNewsVital SignsMon, 14 Sep 2015 20:26:20 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14713 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/global-consumption-trends-break-new-recordsArctic Peoples Overlooked as GLACIER Conference Thaws Climate Discussionshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/MCdmGcrUZ0w/arctic-peoples-overlooked-glacier-conference-thaws-climate-discussions
<!--paging_filter--><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><i>Are climate discussions ignoring the self-determination of Arctic peoples?</i></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | September 3</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Copy of Ecoliteracy (2) (1).jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 210px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><img alt="" src="/system/files/SOTW15cover-r06b_HiRes_3.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 198px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>State of the World 2015:</b></span></font></a></p><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia">Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability</font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">On August 30&ndash;31, President Obama traveled to Alaska to address the U.S. State Department&rsquo;s conference on </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and Resilience</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> (GLACIER), highlighting international and domestic priorities in the region. However, as politicians and activists seek to tackle the climate change challenges of the far North&mdash;rather than taking bold steps to curb emissions in other, more-consumptive regions of the world&mdash;the autonomy of Arctic peoples may be threatened. (<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org">www.worldwatch.org</a>)</span></p><p>GLACIER aimed to consolidate support for an ambitious joint commitment at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting (COP21) that will take place this December in Paris. Among the conference guests were the foreign ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, South Korea and the Netherlands, as well as President Obama, the first sitting president to visit the Alaskan Arctic. President Obama&rsquo;s speech at GLACIER was perhaps the highest-profile one to date on climate change, and he used strong language about the need to grow clean-energy economies and reduce carbon pollution.</p><p>Discussions on a warming Arctic have been wrapped in debate over whether the president should allow drilling off the northern coast of Alaska. The &ldquo;Arctic Paradox&rdquo;&mdash;the expansion of available fossil fuels in the Arctic due to ice melt triggered by the burning of fossil fuels&mdash;has made the region an important battleground in the war against climate change.</p><p>&ldquo;Northerners are being asked to disproportionately bear the burden of mitigating climate change, even as they disproportionately bear the burden of adapting to those changes,&rdquo; writes contributing author Heather Exner-Pirot in Worldwatch&rsquo;s <em>State of the World 2015: Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability</em>.</p><p>The rural regions of the Arctic have among the lowest human development outcomes in the developed world. Resource extraction in the region is seen by some Northerners as a way to provide much-needed livelihoods, revenues to fund public goods, and progress in achieving indigenous self-sufficiency. Yet Southern powers perceive such extractive activity in the Arctic as particularly harmful and dangerous for the climate, and many Southerners are calling for moratoriums, bans, or heavy regulatory burdens on resource exploitation in the far North.</p><p>&ldquo;Imagine how hypocritical and arbitrary this sounds to Northerners, who see oil production continuing unabated and uncontested in the rest of the world, including the lower 48 states, where so many of the carbon emissions that have contributed to climate change have arisen,&rdquo; says Exner-Pirot. &ldquo;It would be far more constructive for [politicians] to work on reducing fossil fuel use in their own regions, rather than seeking to manage the consequences of this energy use in others.&rdquo;</p><p>With melting ice and thawing permafrost, the Arctic is experiencing some of the greatest regional warming on Earth, and Northerners have the greatest stake in good environmental stewardship of the region. Progress has been made to restore self-determination to Northerners and indigenous peoples whose values and goals may differ from those of central governments.</p><p>&ldquo;The Arctic is a homeland, and its inhabitants have fought hard in the past four decades to regain control over its governance, only to see it recast as a global commons,&rdquo; says Exner-Pirot. &ldquo;GLACIER sent a powerful message about climate change, but it also sent a message that America&rsquo;s interest in its Arctic may not recognize voices of the Northernmost peoples.&rdquo;</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Worldwatch&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> investigates hidden threats to sustainability, including economic, political, and environmental challenges that are often underreported in the media. </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015 </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">highlights the need to develop resilience to looming shocks</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">. </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">For more information on the project, visit </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 1.4em;">http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.&nbsp;</span></p><div><hr /></div><p>Heather Exner-Pirot is a strategist for outreach and indigenous engagement in the College of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and managing editor of <em>The Arctic Yearbook</em>, produced by the Northern Research Forum and the University of the Arctic Thematic Network on Geopolitics and Security.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=MCdmGcrUZ0w:YfRNaQrZGk8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=MCdmGcrUZ0w:YfRNaQrZGk8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=MCdmGcrUZ0w:YfRNaQrZGk8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=MCdmGcrUZ0w:YfRNaQrZGk8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/MCdmGcrUZ0w" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changeenvironmentalismfossil fuelsgovernanceindigenous peoplesoilpovertyPressREN21Climate & EnergyEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsThu, 03 Sep 2015 15:38:57 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14708 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/arctic-peoples-overlooked-glacier-conference-thaws-climate-discussionsOverfishing and Climate Change, Combined, Intensify Ocean Threatshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/yRsZPz1R3rA/overfishing-and-climate-change-combined-intensify-ocean-threats
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><i>Millions of people and billions of dollars depend on healthy oceans, but human actions create complex interactions that endanger oceans</i></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | August 18</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Copy of Ecoliteracy (2).png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><img alt="" src="/system/files/SOTW15cover-r06b_HiRes_3.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 198px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>State of the World 2015:</b></span></font></a></p><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia">Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability</font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">The combination of overfishing and climate change may be putting the oceans&rsquo; health&mdash;and our own wellbeing&mdash;at risk. As </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> contributing author Katie Auth explains, protecting lives and livelihoods will require urgent and concerted action to improve the oceans&rsquo; condition (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>&ldquo;Our sense of the oceans&rsquo; power and omnipotence&mdash;combined with scientific ignorance&mdash;contributed to an assumption that nothing we did could ever possibly impact it,&rdquo; writes Auth. &ldquo;Over the years, scientists and environmental leaders have worked tirelessly to demonstrate and communicate the fallacy of such arrogance.&rdquo;</p><p>Three billion people worldwide depend on fish as their main source of animal protein, essential micronutrients, and fatty acids. The livelihoods of millions of people in both developing and high-income countries rely on the multibillion-dollar fisheries industry&mdash;a sector that accounted for 1.5 million jobs and more than $45 billion of income in the United States alone in 2010.</p><p>&ldquo;As our negative impact on the oceans has grown, so has our understanding of the myriad ways in which the health of the marine environment determines our own,&rdquo; writes Auth. &ldquo;The combined stresses of human activities like overfishing and climate change now pose distinct and intensified threats to marine systems.&rdquo;</p><p>The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that the global share of marine stocks considered to be fished &ldquo;within biologically sustainable levels&rdquo; fell from 90 percent to 71 percent between 1974 and 2011. Of that 71 percent, a large majority (86 percent) of stocks are already fished to capacity. Rapid human population growth and rising incomes are increasing the demand for food fish and pushing wild fish populations to the brink.</p><p>Climate-related changes in the marine ecosystem are also affecting the oceans. Over the last 40 years, the upper 75 meters of the world&rsquo;s oceans have warmed by an average of more than 0.1 degrees Celsius per year. Temperate species are responding to this change and other stressors, such as pollution and fishing pressures, by moving toward the poles, possibly increasing competition with polar animals.</p><p>Further, increased carbon in the atmosphere is triggering ocean acidification. About a quarter of human-caused carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has been absorbed into seawater. This changes the chemistry of the water and makes it more difficult for some marine organisms (such as oysters and corals) to form shells and skeletons. Once these populations are affected, entire food webs are threatened.</p><p>&ldquo;Marine ecosystems and individual organisms that already are weakened by overfishing become less resilient and more vulnerable to disruption, especially because environmental change is occurring so rapidly,&rdquo; writes Auth.</p><p>Yet Auth believes that there is still hope. &ldquo;Conservation efforts aimed at improving system resiliency have proven effective in addressing the nexus between fishing and climate change,&rdquo; she writes. Changes in fishing policies, equipment, and techniques that result in less damage to ocean-bottom habitats and that reduce bycatch also would diminish fishing stresses. Finally, revamping the global energy system away from fossil fuels would curtail the rise in ocean temperatures and carbon dioxide levels.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Worldwatch&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> investigates hidden threats to sustainability, including economic, political, and environmental challenges that are often underreported in the media. </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015 </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">highlights the need to develop resilience to looming shocks</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">. </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">For more information on the project, visit </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 1.4em;">http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=yRsZPz1R3rA:M3mTmhJM8m8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=yRsZPz1R3rA:M3mTmhJM8m8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=yRsZPz1R3rA:M3mTmhJM8m8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=yRsZPz1R3rA:M3mTmhJM8m8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/yRsZPz1R3rA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>aquacultureclimate changeconservationendangered specieshungerPressseafoodwaterEnvironment & SocietyFood & Agriculturepress roomNewsMon, 17 Aug 2015 20:00:16 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14703 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/overfishing-and-climate-change-combined-intensify-ocean-threatsBeyond the Climate Refugee: Migration as Adaptationhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/30SmCw0CeQk/beyond-climate-refugee-migration-adaptation
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><i>Misconceptions about climate-induced migration could lead to inadequate support for affected populations, according to the Worldwatch Institute&#39;s </i>State of the World 2015</font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | July 14</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/energy-credit-and-end-growth-chapter-2" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Ch9_SQUARE.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><img alt="" src="/system/files/SOTW15cover-r06b_HiRes_3.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 198px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>State of the World 2015:</b></span></font></a></p><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia">Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability</font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Between 2008 and 2013, some 140 million people were displaced by weather-related disasters; meanwhile, gradual displacements, such as those caused by droughts or sea-level rise, affected the lives of countless others. These &ldquo;climate refugees&rdquo; have become the human face of global warming, their very movement seen as a threat to global security. </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015 </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">contributing author Francois Gemenne exposes the dangers of misrepresenting climate-induced migration as a decision of last resort, rather than as a choice in human adaptation (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>&ldquo;The conception of migrants solely as victims&hellip;might actually hinder their capacity to adapt, and induce inadequate policy responses,&rdquo; writes Gemenne, executive director of the Politics of the Earth program at Sciences Po in Paris and a senior research associate with the University of Liège in Belgium.</p><p>Today&rsquo;s policies on climate change cast migration as an impending humanitarian catastrophe and as a failure to adapt to changing environments back home. As a result, policies focus on reducing migration, commonly assuming that overwhelming flows of migrants from poor countries will be flooding industrialized countries.</p><p>&ldquo;Current adaptation policies tend to focus on the right to stay,&rdquo; writes Gemenne. Today, governments are aiming to reduce the number of people who are forced to migrate, ignoring those who might in fact prefer to leave but are forced to stay against their will or ability. &ldquo;Extending the migration options of populations&hellip;would require a broader development agenda.&rdquo;</p><p>People who would choose to migrate face many barriers. Migration is expensive, sometimes costing several years&rsquo; worth of a migrant&rsquo;s income. Moving also comes with various administrative barriers, such as the possible loss of social benefits and protection. The lack of information about employment and the competition for land at the destination can limit people&rsquo;s ability to relocate.</p><p>Two policy avenues should be considered when addressing climate-induced migration, argues Gemenne. The first is to provide migration opportunities for the most vulnerable populations, including improving access to resources, information, and networks to allow them to relocate. The second opportunity lies in adapting destinations, such as urban areas in developing countries, to host and integrate communities of migrants.</p><p>&ldquo;The paramount goal of policy responses should be to enable people&rsquo;s right to choose which adaptation strategy is best suited for their needs,&rdquo; writes Gemenne. &ldquo;This implies that people should be entitled with both the right to stay and the right to choose.&rdquo;</p>Worldwatch&rsquo;s<em>State of the World 2015</em> investigates hidden threats to sustainability, including economic, political, and environmental challenges that are often underreported in the media. <em>State of the World 2015 </em>highlights the need to develop resilience to looming shocks<em>. </em>For more information on the project, visit <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0">http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0</a>.&nbsp;<p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=30SmCw0CeQk:_mZaigg_FwY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=30SmCw0CeQk:_mZaigg_FwY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=30SmCw0CeQk:_mZaigg_FwY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=30SmCw0CeQk:_mZaigg_FwY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/30SmCw0CeQk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>adaptationdesertificationdisastersfood securityglobal warminghuman rightsClimate & EnergyEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsTue, 14 Jul 2015 13:18:24 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14685 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/beyond-climate-refugee-migration-adaptationNew report unveils pathway to affordable, sustainable energy in Dominican Republic | Nuevo informe revela camino hacia energía sostenible y económica en la República Dominicana http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/IIwARjjsCDo/new-report-unveils-pathway-affordable-sustainable-energy-dominican-republic-0
<p><strong style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">PRESS RELEASE</strong><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;| Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=SOW%202014%20inquiry">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For immediate release | <a href="#ESPANOL">EN ESPANOL</a></strong></p>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="">
<td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/DR Roadmap cover.png" style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px; width: 250px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; height: 322px;" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><b>Harnessing the Dominican Republic&#39;s Sustainable Energy Resources</b></span></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="">
<td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;">
<p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>Notes to Editors</u>:&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">For more information: </strong><span style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">To download a free copy of the </span><em style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">Harnessing the Dominican Republic&#39;s Sustainable Energy Resources&nbsp;</em><span style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">visit </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr" style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;" target="_blank"><b>here&nbsp;</b></a><span style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">or contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><strong>ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</strong></a><span style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><strong>About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong>Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. Worldwatch Institute delivers the insights and ideas that empower decision makers to create an environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="">
<td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;">
<p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><img alt="" src="/system/files/BMU_Office_Germany-ministry-logo.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 135px;" /></p>
<p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Transparent GIF (for powerpoints).gif" style="width: 200px; height: 61px;" /></a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="">
<td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="line-height:1.4em;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<p align="center"><em>An efficient, renewable-based energy system could save the island nation<br /> up to US$25 billion over the next 15 years</em></p>
<p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Yesterday, at the Energy Ministry of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo, the Worldwatch Institute presented analyses and recommendations to government officials and energy stakeholders to support a transition to a sustainable energy system in the country. Minister for Energy and Mines Dr. Antonio Isa Conde, Vice Minister of Energy Ernesto Vilalta, Secretary of State and Vice-President of the National Council for Climate Change Omar Ramirez, and other high-ranking governmental officials met with Worldwatch&rsquo;s Alexander Ochs, Director of Climate and Energy at Worldwatch and the director of the study, to receive the report, </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">Harnessing the Dominican Republic&rsquo;s Sustainable Energy Resources</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">. Representatives from the Ministry and stakeholders in the energy sector were then briefed on the social, economic, and environmental benefits of transitioning to an efficient, renewable-based energy system (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p>
<p>According to the report, transitioning to an electricity system powered 85 percent by renewables can decrease the average cost of electricity in the Dominican Republic by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 2010. Such an ambitious pathway to renewable energy would improve the safety and reliability of the island nation&rsquo;s energy supply. It also would create up to 12,500 additional jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Dominican electricity sector to a mere 3 million tons annually, all while making power generation in the country more resilient to the impacts of climate change and reducing local air and water pollution.</p>
<p><strong>The Dominican Republic depends on fossil fuel imports for 86 percent of its electricity needs</strong>, a reliance that brings enormous economic and environmental vulnerabilities and costs. The country spends up to a tenth of its gross domestic product on fossil fuel imports and spent US$1 billion on subsidies in 2011 to keep electricity rates more affordable. Transmission and distribution losses remain very high, at 32 percent, leading to significant financial losses for the Dominican power system. Heavy reliance on fossil fuels also results in high local pollution and healthcare costs and contributes to global climate change.</p>
<p><strong>&ldquo;Transitioning to a sustainable system is in the country&rsquo;s best long-term interest,&rdquo; </strong>says Ochs &ldquo;This Roadmap provides decision makers and stakeholders in the Dominican Republic with the technical, socioeconomic, financial, and policy analysis needed to guide the country&rsquo;s further transition to an electricity system that works.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>&ldquo;The study demonstrates that an alternative pathway exists, one that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable,&rdquo;</strong>says Ochs. &ldquo;Together with our partners on the island, we have proven that a power system built on the efficient distribution and competent use of the country&rsquo;s vast available renewable resources is the only smart way forward for the Dominican Republic.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Improving power generation efficiency and reducing grid losses</strong>&mdash;both of which are far short of international standards&mdash;are a first step to reducing electricity prices for consumers, the report finds. The lowest-cost ways to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the country include installing efficient lighting controls in new commercial buildings, switching from incandescent light bulbs to LEDs and investing in more-efficient electronics in the commercial and residential sectors, and replacing fuel oil plants with natural gas-fired plants.Even with improvements in efficiency, however, new power capacity will still be needed to meet the country&rsquo;s needs.</p>
<p>If grid strengthening measures are implemented, <strong>renewable energy can reliably meet up to 85 percent of the Dominican Republic&rsquo;s electricity demand while still lowering energy costs</strong>. Of the possible renewable installed capacity, the majority (85 percent) could be met with solar (4,708 megawatts) and wind (4,205 megawatts) by 2030, according to the most ambitious scenario presented in the report. The rest would come from small hydropower and bagasse.</p>
<p><strong>Renewable energy technologies are already fully competitive with conventional power solutions</strong>, even if so-called &ldquo;externalities&rdquo; are not accounted for, according toWorldwatch&rsquo;s electricity cost modeling. Moreover, &ldquo;the social and economic case for renewables becomes even stronger once the very real air and water pollution costs, as well as related health costs of fossil fuel generation, are included,&rdquo; says Ochs. &ldquo;Add climate change to the equation, and the rationale behind clean modern energy technologies becomes an economic no-brainer.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Distributed generation&mdash;producing power where it is consumed, such as using rooftop solar systems&mdash;can greatly reduce grid losses</strong>. It is also more resilient than centralized fossil fuel generation to climate change impacts, such as hurricanes, inland flooding, or droughts. Renewable energy sources&mdash;particularly distributed systems&mdash;are also the only feasible long-term solution to provide affordable electricity to the 4 percent of Dominicans who live in remote areas without any access to the power grid.</p>
<p>The report provides detailed geographic and temporal analysis of the country&rsquo;s strong solar and wind resources. It demonstrates how a good weather forecasting system and a reliable, modernized grid allow for both reliable production and system protection in the case of extreme weather events.</p>
<p><strong>The largest hurdle is the upfront costs of such a system change</strong>. Building up enough renewable energy capacity to power 85 percent of Dominican electricity would require investments of aroundUS$78 billion. However, the switch to renewables is much more affordable than any scenario that relies on conventional energy sources, including installing, operating, and fueling fossil fuel-based power plants. Total savings to the country in the highest renewable scenario (85 percent) is US$25 billion by 2030. This would free up significant public money over the next 15 years to spend on other pressing social and economic concerns.</p>
<p>The Roadmap makes concrete suggestions for building both financial and human capacities to make the sustainable energy pathway a reality. The suggestions aim to improve the investment environment for public and private as well as domestic and international financing.</p>
<p><strong>To speed the energy transition, the report recommends that the Dominican Republic make renewable energy an overarching development priority</strong>, rallying key governmental and non-governmental actors behind a clean, independent, affordable, and reliable energy vision. Creating a new Ministry of Energy and Mines in July 2013 was a strong first step toward mainstreaming the country&rsquo;s myriad energy-related resources. The Roadmap outlines additional concrete finance and policy recommendations to strengthen the investment environment for renewables and to allow the energy sector to follow the best path forward based on conclusions from the report&rsquo;s modeling and analysis.</p>
<p>&ldquo;A paradigm shift is happening in the Dominican Republic, and our Roadmap will further accelerate it,&rdquo; says Ochs. &ldquo;The country&rsquo;s government, private industry, and civil society actors have come to see the important role of energy reform in reducing electricity costs, bolstering the national economy, creating social opportunity, and contributing to a healthier environment.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;The country is now at a crucial point where it must implement targeted measures in order to achieve the full benefits of a sustainable energy system for generations to come.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Available publicly in English and Spanish on July 8 at <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr">www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr</a>, the Worldwatch Institute report <em>Harnessing the Dominican Republic&rsquo;s Sustainable Energy Resources</em> presents the technical, socioeconomic, financial, and policy assessments needed to transition to an energy system in the Dominican Republic that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">--END--</p>
<p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Report Highlights:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Renewables in the Dominican Republic could reduce the total cost of electricity generation and can save the country up to US$25 billion by 2030.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Transitioning the country to an electricity system powered 85 percent by renewables could decrease the average cost of electricity by 40 percent by 2030 in comparison to 2010.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 0.25in;">The renewable energy transition could create up to 12,500 additional jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector to a mere 3 million tons annually.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The country&rsquo;s solar energy resource is particularly strong and is far superior to that of Germany, the global leader in installed solar photovoltaic capacity.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Just 15&ndash;20 medium-sized wind farms (60 megawatts each) could provide half of the Dominican Republic&rsquo;s current power demand.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Over the past five years, US$644 million has been invested in the country&rsquo;s renewables sector. More recently, however, investment has declined, with only some US$1.2 million in green micro-loans distributed to borrowers in 2013.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">The Roadmap recommends reducing the number of vice-ministries in the new Ministry of Energy and Mines from six to just three: Administration, Energy, and Mining.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ROADMAPS: </strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">By collaborating with local stakeholders, the Worldwatch Institute has produced Sustainable Energy Roadmaps for several countries and world regions. Combining technical analysis, socio-economic modeling, investment analysis, and policy assessment, the Roadmaps result in concrete implementation plans that empower nations to reduce local pollution, greenhouse gases, long-term energy costs, and dependence on fossil fuel imports, and to create new social and economic opportunity while supporting environmental integrity.</span></p>
<p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">ABOUT THE WORLDWATCH INSTITUTE: </strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">The Worldwatch Institute is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. Worldwatch delivers the insights and ideas that empower decision makers to createan environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span id="cke_bm_219S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><img alt="" src="/system/files/DR launch.jpg" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: center;" /><span id="cke_bm_219E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Executive Director of Climate Change and Viceminister of Energy Ernesto Vilalta, Minister of Energy and Mines Antonio Isa Conde, Worldwatch Climate and Energy Director Alexander Ochs, and Secretary of State and Vice-President of the National Council for Climate Change Omar Ramírez</em></p>
<hr />
<p align="center"><strong><a name="ESPANOL"></a></strong></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nuevo informe revela camino hacia energía sostenible y económica en la República Dominicana </strong></h1>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><em>Un sistema de energía eficiente y basado en renovables podría salvar la isla hasta US $25 mil millones durante los próximos 15 años</em></h3>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">Ministro de Energía y Minas Dr. Antonio Isa Conde, Viceministro de Energía, Ernesto Vilalta, Secretario de Estado y Vicepresidente del Consejo Nacional para el Cambio Climático, Omar Ramírez, y otros funcionarios gubernamentales de alto rango se reunieron con Alexander Ochs, Director de Clima y Energía de Worldwatch y director del estudio, para recibir el informe, <em>Aprovechamiento de los Recursos de Energía Sostenible de la República Dominicana</em>. Los representantes del Ministerio y de las partes interesadas en el sector energético fueron informados sobre los beneficios sociales, económicos y ambientales de la transición a un sistema eficiente, basado en energía renovable (<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr">www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/roadmapdr</a>).</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">La transición a un sistema eléctrico alimentado por 85 por ciento de energías renovables puede reducir el coste medio de la electricidad en la República Dominicana por 40 por ciento en 2030 en comparación con 2010. Esta vía ambiciosa hasta energías renovables haría más seguro y confiable el suministro de energía de la isla. También crearía hasta 12.500 puestos de trabajo adicionales y reduciría las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en el sector eléctrico dominicano a apenas 3 millones de toneladas al año, a la vez que haría más resistente el sector de energía a los impactos del cambio climático y reduciría la contaminación local del aire y del agua.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><strong>La República Dominicana depende de importaciones de combustibles fósiles para 86 por ciento de su producción de electricidad,</strong>trayendo enormes vulnerabilidades y costos económicos y ambientales. El país gasta hasta una décima parte de su producto interno bruto a la importación de combustibles fósiles y pasó de mil millones de dólares en subsidios en 2011 para mantener las tasas de facturación de electricidad más asequible. Las pérdidas de transmisión y distribución permanecen muy altas, al 32 por ciento, lo que lleva a pérdidas económicas significativas para el sistema de energía dominicana. La dependencia de los combustibles fósiles también da lugar a la contaminación y a los costos altos locales de salud y contribuye al cambio climático global.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><strong>&ldquo;La transición a un sistema sostenible es en el mejor interés a largo plazo del país&rdquo;</strong>, dice Ochs. &quot;Esta hoja de ruta proporciona a los responsables políticos y partes interesadas en la República Dominicana con el análisis técnico, socioeconómico, financiero y político necesario para orientar aún más la transición del país a un sistema eléctrico que funciona.&quot;</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">&quot;<strong>El estudio demuestra que existe una vía alternativa&mdash;una que sea socialmente, económicamente y ambientalmente sostenible</strong>&rdquo;,dice Ochs. &ldquo;Junto con nuestros socios en la isla, hemos demostrado que un sistema de energía basado en la distribución eficiente y el uso competente de los enormes recursos renovables internos disponibles es la única manera inteligente de avanzar para la República Dominicana&rdquo;.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><strong>Mejorar la eficiencia de generación de energía y reducir las pérdidas de la red eléctrica</strong>&mdash;ambos muy lejos de satisfacer las normas internacionales&mdash;son un primer paso para la reducción de precios de la electricidad para los consumidores, según el informe. Las formas de costo más bajo para mitigar las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en el país incluyen la instalación de controles eficientes de iluminación en edificios comerciales nuevos, el cambio de bombillas incandescentes a LED y la inversión en electrónica más eficiente en los sectores comerciales y residenciales, y la sustitución de plantas de fueloil con plantas de gas natural.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">Incluso con las mejoras en la eficiencia, sin embargo, todavía se necesitará nueva capacidad de energía para satisfacer las necesidades del país. Si se implementan las medidas de fortalecimiento de la red, <strong>la energía renovable puede satisfacer de forma fiable hasta 85 por ciento de la demanda de electricidad de la República Dominicana, al mismo tiempo reduciendo los costos de energía.</strong></p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">De la posible capacidad instalada renovable, la mayoría (85 por ciento) se podría cumplir con energía solar (4.708 megavatios) y eólica (4.205 megavatios) para el año 2030, según el escenario más ambicioso presentado en el informe. El resto vendría de pequeñas centrales hidroeléctricas y de bagazo.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">Las tecnologías de energías renovables ya son plenamente competitivas con soluciones de energía convencionales, incluso si no se tienen en cuento las &ldquo;externalidades,&rdquo; como muestra el modelado de costos de electricidad de Worldwatch. Además, &ldquo;el caso social y económico de las energías renovables se hace aún más fuerte una vez que los costos muy reales de la contaminación del aire y del agua&mdash;así como los costos relacionados con la salud de la generación de combustibles fósiles&mdash;están incluidos,&rdquo; dice Ochs. &ldquo;Añade el cambio climático a la ecuación, y la justificación de las tecnologías de energías limpias y modernas se convierte en una obviedad económica&rdquo;.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><strong>La generación distribuida&mdash;produciendo energía donde se consume, como con el uso de sistemas solares en los techos&mdash;puede reducir en gran medida las pérdidas de red.</strong>También es más resistente que la generación centralizada de combustibles fósiles a los impactos del cambio climático&mdash;como huracanes, inundaciones, o sequías. Las energías renovables&mdash;en particular, los sistemas distribuidos&mdash;son también la única solución viable a largo plazo para proporcionar electricidad asequible para el 4 por ciento de los dominicanos que viven en zonas remotas sin ningún acceso a la red eléctrica.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">El informe proporciona un análisis detallado acerca de dónde y cuando el sol y el viento proporcionan los recursos más fuertes. Muestra como un buen sistema de predicción meteorológica y una red eléctrica modernizada y confiable permitirían tanto la producción fiable y la protección del sistema en caso de fenómenos meteorológicos extremos.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><strong>El mayor obstáculo es los costos iniciales de un cambio de sistema.</strong>La creación de capacidad de energía renovable suficiente para alimentar 85 por ciento de la electricidad dominicana requeriría inversiones de alrededor de US$ 78 mil millones. Sin embargo, el cambio a las energías renovables es mucho más asequible que cualquier escenario con una mayoría de energías convencionales, incluyendo la instalación, operación, y alimentación de las plantas de energía de origen fósil. El ahorro total para el país en el escenario renovable más alto (85%) son de US$ 25 mil millones en 2030. Eso liberaría el dinero público durante los siguientes 15 años, para gastar en otras preocupaciones sociales y económicasmás apremiantes.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">La Hoja de Ruta hace sugerencias concretas para construir las capacidades financieras y humanas con el fin de hacer una realidad el camino a la energía sostenible. Las sugerencias apuntan a mejorar el ambiente de inversión para la financiación pública y privada, nacional e internacional.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><strong>Para acelerar la transición energética, el informe recomienda que la energía renovable de la República Dominicana sea una prioridad de desarrollo global</strong>, reuniendo a todos los actores gubernamentales y no gubernamentales clave detrás de una visión de energía limpia, independiente, asequible y fiable. La creación de un nuevo Ministerio de Energía y Minas en julio de 2013 fue un fuerte primer paso para integrar los recursos innumerables relacionados con la energía. La Hoja de Ruta describe recomendaciones de finanzas y políticas concretas para fortalecer el ambiente de inversión para renovables y para permitir que el sector de la energía siga el mejor camino a baso de conclusiones del modelado y análisis del informe.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">&quot;Un cambio de paradigma está ocurriendo en la República Dominicana, y nuestra Hoja de Ruta será más acelerarlo&rdquo;, dice Ochs. &ldquo;El gobierno del país, la industria privada, y los actores de la sociedad civil han venido a ver el importante papel de la reforma energética en la reducción de los costos de electricidad, el fortalecimiento de la economía nacional, la creación de oportunidades sociales, y el aporte a un medio ambiente más saludable.&rdquo;</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">&quot;El país se encuentra ahora en un punto crucial en el que debe implementar medidas específicas a fin de lograr todos los beneficios de un sistema energético sostenible para las generaciones venideras.&quot;</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">A disposición del público el 8 de julio en <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>, el <em>Aprovechamiento de los Recursos de Energía Sostenible de la República Dominicana</em>del Instituto Worldwatch presenta las evaluaciones técnicas, socioeconómicas, financieras y políticas necesarias para la transición a un sistema energético en la República Dominicana que sea socialmente, económicamente y ambientalmente sostenible.</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-left:40.5pt;">###</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><strong>Acerca las Hojas de Ruta de Energía Sostenible de Worldwatch: </strong>Al colaborar con los actores locales, el Instituto Worldwatch ha producido hojas de ruta para energía sostenible por varios países y regiones del mundo. Combinando el análisis técnico, la modelización socioeconómica, el análisis de inversiones, y la evaluación de las políticas, las hojas de ruta resultan en planes de aplicación concretas que permiten a los países a reducir la contaminación local, los gases de efecto invernadero, los costos de energía a largo plazo, y la dependencia de las importaciones de combustibles fósiles para crear nuevas oportunidades sociales y económicos, mientras que apoyan a la integridad ambiental.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;">El <em>Aprovechamiento de los Recursos de Energía Sostenible de la República Dominicana</em>se hizo posible gracias al apoyo financiero significativo de la Iniciativa Internacional del Clima del Ministerio Federal Alemán de Medio Ambiente, Conservación de la Naturaleza, Construcción y Seguridad Nuclear. El informe fue producido en estrecha colaboración con la Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE), el Ministerio de Energía y Minas, y otras agencias gubernamentales de la República Dominicana.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><strong>Acerca el Instituto Worldwatch: </strong>El Instituto Worldwatch es una organización de investigación independiente con sede en Washington, DC que trabaja en la energía, los recursos y cuestiones ambientales. Worldwatch ofrece los conocimientos e las ideas que permiten a responsables a tomar decisiones&nbsp; para crear una sociedad ecológicamente sostenible que satisfaga las necesidades humanas. Para obtener más información, visite <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><img alt="" src="/system/files/DR launch.jpg" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: center;" /></p>
<p style="margin-left:40.5pt;"><em>Director Executivo de Cambio Climático y Viceministro de Energía, Ernesto Vilalta; Ministro de Energía y Minas, Dr. Antonio Isa Conde; Director de Clima y Energía de Worldwatch y director del estudio, Alexander Ochs; y Secretario de Estado y Vicepresidente del Consejo Nacional para el Cambio Climático, Omar Ramírez</em></p>
<p style="margin-left:-.25in;"><span id="cke_bm_86E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span id="cke_bm_85E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span id="cke_bm_84E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><span id="cke_bm_83E" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=IIwARjjsCDo:kir33e8oFOs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=IIwARjjsCDo:kir33e8oFOs:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=IIwARjjsCDo:kir33e8oFOs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=IIwARjjsCDo:kir33e8oFOs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/IIwARjjsCDo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>aboutair pollutionclimate changecoalPressrenewable energysolar powertourismwind powerClimate & Energypress roomNewsWed, 08 Jul 2015 13:13:34 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14683 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/new-report-unveils-pathway-affordable-sustainable-energy-dominican-republic-0Energy Costs Rising as National Debts Growhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/4mXLjh6xwaw/energy-costs-rising-national-debts-grow
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>Worldwatch Institute&#39;s </em>State of the World 2015<em> explores the hidden threats of the rise of energy costs</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | June 2</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/energy-credit-and-end-growth-chapter-2" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Copy of this is (1)_0.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><img alt="" src="/system/files/SOTW15cover-r06b_HiRes_3.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 198px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>State of the World 2015:</b></span></font></a></p><p style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0"><font face="georgia">Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability</font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Although gas prices are temporarily low at the pump, long-term energy costs are on the rise. According to </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015 </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">contributing author Nathan John Hagens, a former hedge fund manager who teaches human macro-ecology at the University of Minnesota, nations are papering over those costs with debt. Higher energy costs are leading to continued recessions, excess claims on future natural resources, and more-severe social inequality and poverty (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>The relatively low cost of energy extraction compared to the benefits obtained from fossil fuels has been perhaps the most important factor in the industrialized world&rsquo;s economic success. Historically, large quantities of inexpensive fuels were available even after accounting for the energy lost to extract and process them. But, as remaining fuels become less accessible, higher energy costs will have ripple effects through economies built around continued large energy-input requirements. Rising costs will endanger highly energy-intensive industries and practices&mdash;including the energy sector itself&mdash;as well as widen and deepen poverty as everything becomes more expensive.</p><p>&ldquo;Despite having &lsquo;plenty of energy,&rsquo; higher physical costs [of extraction] suggest that energy likely will rise from a historical average of 5 percent of GDP [gross domestic product], to 10&ndash;15 percent of GDP or higher,&rdquo; writes Hagens.</p><p>In the short term, nations are taking on growing debt to avoid losses in GDP&mdash;an indicator of the economic health of a country. Since 2008, the Group of Seven nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) have added about $1 trillion per year in nominal GDP, but only by increasing their debt by over $18 trillion.</p><p>However, continued use of credit to mask the declining productivity of energy extraction is unsustainable. For each additional debt dollar, less and less GDP is generated, and, at the same time, our highest-energy-gain fuels are being depleted. Energy is becoming more expensive for the creditor in the future than for the debtor in the present.</p><p>&ldquo;We have entered a period of unknown duration where things are going to be tough,&rdquo; writes Hagens. &ldquo;But humanity in the past has responded in creative, unexpected ways with new inventions and aspirations.&rdquo; While policy choices such as banking reform, a carbon and consumption tax, and moving away from GDP as a proxy for well-being are good long-term ideas, &ldquo;we urgently need institutions and populations to begin to prepare&hellip;for a world with the same or less each year instead of more.&rdquo;</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Worldwatch&rsquo;s</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> investigates hidden threats to sustainability, including economic, political, and environmental challenges that are often underreported in the media. </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015 highlights the need to develop resilience to looming shocks. </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">For more information on the project, visit </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 1.4em;">http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Notes to Editors:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;</em></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=4mXLjh6xwaw:jl3Wx3fmoFo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=4mXLjh6xwaw:jl3Wx3fmoFo:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=4mXLjh6xwaw:jl3Wx3fmoFo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=4mXLjh6xwaw:jl3Wx3fmoFo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/4mXLjh6xwaw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changecoalelectricity productionemissions reductionsenergy intensityEuropean Unionfossil fuelsglobal warmingnatural gasoilPressrenewable energyClimate & Energypress roomNewsTue, 02 Jun 2015 20:58:07 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14654 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/energy-costs-rising-national-debts-growAs Shale Gas Booms, Effects and Sustainability Remain Unclearhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/tPiGotxpheQ/shale-gas-booms-effects-and-sustainability-remain-unclear
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores trends and consequences of fracking</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | April 21</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/effects-and-sustainability-us-shale-gas-boom" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Shale for PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/effects-and-sustainability-us-shale-gas-boom" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Effects and Sustainability of the U.S. Shale Gas Boom</span></strong></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/effects-and-sustainability-us-shale-gas-boom" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Currently, only three countries are producing shale gas through hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on a commercial scale: the United States, Canada, and China. But as several other countries undertake shale resource exploration efforts, a key question remains: What are the impacts of shale gas mining on local economies and the environment? In the Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s latest Vital Sign, Research Fellow Christoph von Friedeburg concludes that any strong national reliance on shale gas (domestic or foreign) could have undesirable consequences in both the near and long terms (<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org">www.worldwatch.org</a>).</span></p><p>Worldwide, an estimated 7,299 trillion cubic feet of shale gas is considered &ldquo;technically recoverable.&rdquo; However, continued exploration could lead to substantial revisions of deposits that are not merely technically, but also economically recoverable.</p><p>Discussions about fracking are ongoing in several European countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and Bulgaria. But recoverable quantities of shale gas across the region remain uncertain, and many supplies are located deep underground, some in densely populated areas. Additional factors inhibiting the development of Europe&rsquo;s shale gas resources include disputes about the ownership of mineral rights, and substantial environmental and safety concerns.</p><p>The U.K. government appears to be in favor of shale gas development. However, the single shale well that has been fracked in the country so far, in 2011, caused two earth tremors, leading to a temporary ban on fracking that was in effect until 2012. Since then, a handful of exploration wells have been drilled, but none have been fracked so far. In Romania, expectations for the country&rsquo;s shale gas future have soured because of lower and less-profitable projections of available reserves, growing public opposition to fracking, and lower oil prices, which have rendered natural gas less economically viable.</p><p>China has invested more than $1 billion in shale gas exploration so far. But most of the country&rsquo;s deposits are located in hard-to-access mountainous areas, either at great depths or too far from the considerable water resources required for the fracking process. This makes drilling wells, as well as establishing the needed infrastructure, such as roads and pipelines, more challenging and expensive.</p><p>The United States is by far the dominant producer of shale gas, producing a record 32.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2014. Proponents of fracking have touted shale gas development as a boon for local job creation. However, most of the associated jobs are temporary, and many are filled by out-of-area workers whose short-lived influx provides only passing benefit to local economies. The development of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, has been shown in many cases to be more successful in creating employment.</p><p>The costs of damages to local roads from the heavy-truck fleets needed for well construction and wastewater transport amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. Air pollution emissions from vehicles and from well-pad diesel generators can harm human health. And the toxic wastewater that flows out from the wells after the fracking fluid is pumped underground&mdash;containing a mixture of chemicals, water, and sand&mdash;is often inadequately treated, presenting a danger to soils and aquifers. Such impacts need to be assessed closely within the United States as well as in other countries that are considering shale gas development.</p><p>The shift in the United States from coal to natural gas for power generation has helped to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions in the short term. But the long-term, global benefit of this reduction is dubious, as fracking releases large quantities of methane&mdash;a more potent contributor to atmospheric warming than carbon dioxide&mdash;and because growing amounts of U.S. coal have found their way to export markets. Furthermore, optimistic projections of future U.S. shale gas production have been called into question.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/effects-and-sustainability-us-shale-gas-boom" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/effects-and-sustainability-us-shale-gas-boom" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Effects and Sustainability of the U.S. Shale Gas Boom</span></strong></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/effects-and-sustainability-us-shale-gas-boom" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Shale Figure 1.png" /></a></p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=tPiGotxpheQ:PdoQbzEXWyc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=tPiGotxpheQ:PdoQbzEXWyc:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=tPiGotxpheQ:PdoQbzEXWyc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=tPiGotxpheQ:PdoQbzEXWyc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/tPiGotxpheQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Chinaclimate changeenergy intensityenvironmentalismEuropean Unionfossil fuelsglobal warminggreen economicsmethanenatural gasPressVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs Onlinewater pollutionClimate & Energypress roomNewsTue, 21 Apr 2015 16:57:43 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14634 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/shale-gas-booms-effects-and-sustainability-remain-unclearHidden Threats Imperil Quest for Sustainable Societies Worldwide, Report Findshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/IjqVCM5D6J0/hidden-threats-imperil-quest-sustainable-societies-worldwide-report-finds
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">PRESS RELEASE | Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=SOW%202014%20inquiry">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For release: Monday, April 13, 2015</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2015-confronting-hidden-threats-sustainability-0" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/SOTW15cover-r06b_HiRes_1.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 331px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong>View the <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/Tip%20Sheet%20SOW%202015.doc">Tip Sheet here</a>.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>Notes to Editors</u>:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">State of the World 2015</em><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">, or for information about the book&rsquo;s launch on April 13, 2015, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">. You can RSVP to the launch at&nbsp;</span><a href="http://bit.ly/SOWRSVP" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">bit.ly/SOWRSVP</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">or register for the live webcast at&nbsp;</span><a href="http://bit.ly/SOWwebcast" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">bit.ly/SOWwebcast</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><u>About the Worldwatch Institute</u>:&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&nbsp;report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><em>Worldwatch&rsquo;s </em>State of the World 2015&nbsp;<em>finds that many global dangers to sustainability&nbsp;</em><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">(and their solutions) are often overlooked</em></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">The world&rsquo;s economies and people face hidden dangers to sustainability that demand immediate action. According to </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2015: Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">, the latest edition of the annual series from the Worldwatch Institute, these threats, driven directly or indirectly by growing stress on the planet&rsquo;s resources, have the potential to upend social systems, environmental balance, and even entire economies (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>&ldquo;These threats are hidden in the sense that they are commonly overlooked or underappreciated,&rdquo; notes Ed Groark, Acting President of Worldwatch. &ldquo;But addressing them is critical to building sustainable societies.&rdquo;</p><p>The report outlines a set of issues whose roots in resource overconsumption are typically not explored in news accounts. The threats identified are diverse, ranging from emerging diseases that originate in animals and growing dependence on imported food to the problems of energy availability and increasingly degraded oceans. The common link among these various challenges&mdash;humanity&rsquo;s rising claim on the planet&rsquo;s resources&mdash;suggests the urgent need to commit to sustainable economies in which resources are stewarded and the environment is protected.&nbsp;</p><p>Over the last few decades, human societies have come to comprehend that they are depleting resources at unsustainable rates, spreading dangerous pollutants, undermining ecosystems, and threatening to unhinge the planet&rsquo;s climate balance. But a reckoning is complicated by the fact that the complete environmental impacts are not always readily discernible&mdash;they are camouflaged and multiplied by discontinuities, synergisms, feedback loops, and cascading effects. And the manner in which environmental impacts translate into the social and economic spheres further complicates the picture, producing unexpected consequences. Even economic growth, long unquestioned and coveted, needs to be examined with healthy skepticism.</p><p>&ldquo;These are significant threats, but each and every one of them has solutions, especially if we commit to an ethic of stewardship, robust citizenship, and a systems approach to addressing the challenges that we face,&rdquo; says Groark.</p><p>For many of these hidden threats, the solutions are common sense. For example, more rapid adoption of renewable energy systems would reduce the pressure to find ever more exotic sources of fossil fuels. And the pressure to import food could be reduced by effectively increasing food supplies through reductions in food waste&mdash;about a third of the global harvest is lost each year. But this requires that economics ministers and others set human well-being, rather than growth, as the primary economic objective, shifting the global economic machine away from intensive resource use and the endless pursuit of &ldquo;more.&rdquo;</p><p>With the latest edition of <em>State of the World</em>, the researchers at Worldwatch bring to light challenges that we can no longer afford to ignore.For more information on <em>State of the World</em>, the Institute&rsquo;s annual flagship publication, <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/state-of-the-world">view the complete book series</a>.</p><p align="center"><strong>&mdash; </strong><strong>END</strong><strong>&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=IjqVCM5D6J0:aqgW7VL3Zwc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=IjqVCM5D6J0:aqgW7VL3Zwc:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=IjqVCM5D6J0:aqgW7VL3Zwc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=IjqVCM5D6J0:aqgW7VL3Zwc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/IjqVCM5D6J0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changedesertificationemissions reductionsfood securityfossil fuelsglobal securityglobal warminggovernancegreen economicsinstituteminingnatural resource managementoilpopulationpovertyPressrefugeesrenewable energyseafoodsolar powersustainable agriculturewildlifeClimate & EnergyEnvironment & SocietyFood & Agriculturepress roomNewsMon, 13 Apr 2015 21:34:53 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14630 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/hidden-threats-imperil-quest-sustainable-societies-worldwide-report-findsGenetically Modified Crop Industry Continues to Expandhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/iTzOwtuCvJo/genetically-modified-crop-industry-continues-expand-0
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores trends and consequences of genetically modified crops</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | March 24</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/genetically-modified-crop-industry-continues-expand" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/GM Crops for PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/genetically-modified-crop-industry-continues-expand" target="_blank"><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Genetically Modified Crop Industry Continues to Expand</span></a></strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/genetically-modified-crop-industry-continues-expand" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">One of the familiar narratives for the promotion of genetically modified (GM) crops is that they have the potential to alleviate poverty and hunger. But the real impacts of GM crops deserve closer assessment, writes Wanqing Zhou, research associate in the Food and Agriculture Program at the Worldwatch Institute, in the Institute&rsquo;s latest Vital Signs Online article (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>The amount of agricultural land used for GM crops has been increasing for more than two decades, reaching 181.5 million hectares in 2014. The largest GM crop producers are the United States, Brazil, Argentina, India, and Canada.</p><p>In 2014, the global value of GM seed reached $15.7 billion. The small handful of companies that develop and market GM crops has a near monopoly. In the United States, the agri-tech multinational Monsanto holds 63 percent of the Release Permits and Release Notifications for GM crops issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the seed company DuPont Pioneer holds another 13 percent.</p><p>GM crops have had their genetic materials engineered through biotechnologies to introduce new or enhanced characteristics, including herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, enhancement of certain nutrients, and drought tolerance. But instead of producing more food by improving yield, the benefit of these technologies more often consists of saving time and effort in farming, as well as reducing market risks for farmers. Based on the current profile of GM crops, the principal driving force today is demand for animal feed (soybeans and corn) and crop-based oils (soybean and canola) rather than for food consumed directly by people.</p><p>From a social perspective, although the efficiency improvement from the use of GM crops may give farmers time to turn to other sources of income, the transition also has led to the loss of land and livelihoods when farmers with more assets take over the land of less-resourceful and less-protected small farmers.</p><p>From an environmental perspective, the high and growing demand for meat and other animal products, met increasingly through the use of GM feed and industrial production methods, contributes to numerous environmental problems, from pollution to deforestation. Although growing herbicide-tolerant soybean and maize might be less damaging than conventional ways of meeting the demand for animal feed, in terms of the pesticide use and tillage requirement, the advantage is diminishing as herbicide resistance develops in weeds.</p>In the next 5&ndash;10 years, the profile of commercial GM crops may diversify in both crop variety and traits to include fruits, protein seeds, and staple foods such as rice and cassava. To minimize the negative social and environmental impacts of this broadening of GM crop varieties, it will be important to adopt rigorous regulatory frameworks based on the principle of case-by-case assessment.<p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/genetically-modified-crop-industry-continues-expand" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;</span><strong><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/genetically-modified-crop-industry-continues-expand" target="_blank"><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Genetically Modified Crop Industry Continues to Expand</span></a></strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/genetically-modified-crop-industry-continues-expand" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/GM Crops Figure 1.png" /></a></p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=iTzOwtuCvJo:l3kbBXzFsgI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=iTzOwtuCvJo:l3kbBXzFsgI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=iTzOwtuCvJo:l3kbBXzFsgI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=iTzOwtuCvJo:l3kbBXzFsgI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/iTzOwtuCvJo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>crop diversityenvironmentalismfood securitygrainhungernutritionorganic agriculturePresssoilsustainable agricultureUnited StatesVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs OnlineFood & Agriculturepress roomNewsTue, 24 Mar 2015 15:27:37 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14622 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/genetically-modified-crop-industry-continues-expand-0Growing Food Trade, Shrinking Self-Sufficiencyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/W7vVTQfpJSs/growing-food-trade-shrinking-self-sufficiency
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores trends and consequences of the international food market</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | March 10</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/food-trade-and-self-sufficiency" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Food Trade for PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/food-trade-and-self-sufficiency" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><strong>Food Trade and Self-Sufficiency</strong></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/food-trade-and-self-sufficiency" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">As society reaches the limits of available farmland and accessible irrigation water, many countries have turned to international markets to help meet domestic food demand. Imports of grain worldwide have increased more than fivefold between 1960 and 2013. However, importing food as a response to resource scarcity creates dependence on global markets, writes Gary Gardner, director of publications at the Worldwatch Institute, in the Institute&rsquo;s latest Vital Signs Online article (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>&ldquo;In 2013, more than a third of the world&rsquo;s nations&mdash;77 in all&mdash;imported at least a quarter of the major grains they needed. This compares to just 49 countries in 1961,&rdquo; writes Gardner. &ldquo;Meanwhile, the number of grain-exporting countries expanded by just 6 between 1961 and 2013.&rdquo;</p><p>Food import dependence has several roots. One problem is the steady loss of fertile land and fresh water. In 62 countries, the area of farmland is insufficient to meet domestic consumption needs, and in 22 countries, the consumption of agricultural products (not just grains) requires more fresh water than each country can extract.</p><p>Despite the importance of farmland, land continues to be degraded or paved over. Farmland near cities is regularly converted to accommodate housing, industry, and other urban needs. The United States, for example, lost 9.3 million hectares of agricultural land to development&mdash;an area the size of the state of Indiana&mdash;between 1982 and 2007.</p><p>Pressure on water supplies for agriculture is also becoming widespread. A 2012 study in the journal&nbsp;<em>Nature</em>&nbsp;estimated that some 20 percent of the world&rsquo;s aquifers are pumped faster than they are recharged by rainfall, often in key food-producing areas.</p><p>Another threat to national endowments of farmland has emerged in the practice of &ldquo;land grabbing&rdquo;&mdash;the purchase or leasing of land overseas by investment firms, biofuel producers, large-scale farming operations, and governments. Since 2000, agreements have been concluded for foreign entities to purchase or lease more than 42 million hectares, an area about the size of Japan. The bulk of the grabbed land is located in Africa, with Asia being the next most common region for acquisitions.</p><p>&ldquo;The largest source of land grabbing is the United States, where investors see an opportunity to make money on an increasingly limited resource,&rdquo; writes Gardner. However, &ldquo;contracts often do not take into account the interests of smallholders, who may have been working the acquired land over a long period.&rdquo;</p><p>Importing food as a response to resource scarcity has two clear dangers. First, not all countries can be net food importers; at some point the demand for imported food could exceed the capacity to supply it. Already, many major supplier regions are themselves experiencing resource constraints. Second, excessive dependence on imports leaves a country vulnerable to supply interruptions, whether for natural reasons (such as drought or pest infestation in supplier countries) or political manipulation.</p><p>An import strategy may be unavoidable for some nations, but it should be considered only reluctantly by countries that can meet their food needs in more conventional ways. It is crucial to conserve agricultural resources wherever possible.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/food-trade-and-self-sufficiency" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;<a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/food-trade-and-self-sufficiency" target="_blank"><strong>Food Trade and Self-Sufficiency</strong></a></span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=W7vVTQfpJSs:NZrbdzGnEkY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=W7vVTQfpJSs:NZrbdzGnEkY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=W7vVTQfpJSs:NZrbdzGnEkY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=W7vVTQfpJSs:NZrbdzGnEkY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/W7vVTQfpJSs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>food securityglobal warminghungerland rightsPresssoiltradeVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs OnlinewaterFood & Agriculturepress roomNewsTue, 10 Mar 2015 16:01:01 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14614 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/growing-food-trade-shrinking-self-sufficiencyPeople, Planet, Profit: The Rise of Triple-Bottom-Line Businesseshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/wu2WL9lpkU4/people-planet-profit-rise-triple-bottom-line-businesses-0
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">PRESS RELEASE | Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=SOW%202014%20inquiry">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For release: Tuesday, March 3, 2015</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/PPP_PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 210px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>Notes to Editors</u>:&nbsp;</strong>To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2014&nbsp;</em></a>or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>About the Worldwatch Institute</u>:&nbsp;</strong>Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><em>State of the World&nbsp;</em></a>report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><img alt="" src="/system/files/cover.jpg" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><font face="georgia"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>State of the World 2014:</b></span></a></font></p><p><font face="georgia"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank">Governing for Sustainability</a></font></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><em style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</em><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">State of the World 2014&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">explores the&nbsp;</em><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">role of ethical capitalism&nbsp;</em><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">in the quest for sustainable economies</em></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Entrepreneurs are beginning to challenge business as usual, infusing ethics into the notoriously ruthless corporate world. In </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2014,</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> contributing author Colleen Cordes discusses the small, but growing, impact of benefit corporations and other triple-bottom-line companies &mdash;which strive to have positive social and environmental impacts, as well as to earn a profit&mdash;in the transition to a sustainable economy (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>&ldquo;Put simply, the conventional economic model&mdash;amoral capitalism&mdash;and the willingness of so many investors and consumers to tolerate it are two of the most challenging threats to preserving a livable human future,&rdquo; writes Cordes, public policy consultant and director of outreach and development for The Nature Institute of Ghent, New York.</p><p>In the last few years, however, public restlessness has been growing as the environmental and social abuses of the conventional economic model are revealed. And while activists and labor groups, investors and consumers, and national and international nonprofit groups are pushing for more corporate transparency, corporations themselves are still central to speeding the urgently needed transition to sustainable economies.</p><p>&ldquo;A remarkable new breed of business is volunteering to be held publicly or even legally accountable to a triple bottom line: prioritizing people and the planet, while also promoting profits,&rdquo; writes Cordes. Led mostly by small and medium-sized companies in the United States (and to a lesser extent in Canada and Chile), many of these companies have been pushing to be officially responsible for their social and environmental effects, not just their financial success.</p><p>Almost all of these companies are privately held, although a few major corporations have recently become connected to the triple-bottom-line movement through subsidiaries they have acquired. On the one hand, such acquisitions can expand the movement&rsquo;s reach. On the other, they also raise questions about whether the movement&rsquo;s identity and potential will be diluted if large corporations acquire smaller, triple-bottom-line companies but are not strongly committed to their new subsidiaries&rsquo; particular social and ecological values.</p><p>Given this and other challenges, the rise of companies seeking public accountability for their social and environmental impacts is a small revolution. But a few larger companies, like Patagonia and King Arthur Flour, have already joined the ranks. And there is considerable potential to entice other companies to enter the movement and to inspire the public to demand that other companies follow.</p><p>&ldquo;Although it could take years for a Fortune 500 benefit corporation to emerge, such conversations&mdash;and broader advocacy by citizens and public interest groups&mdash;could begin now to firm up and speed up that possibility,&rdquo; writes Cordes.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Worldwatch&rsquo;s</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2014</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> investigates the broad concept of &ldquo;governance&rdquo; for sustainability, including action by national governments, international organizations, and local communities. </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2014 also highlights the need for economic and political institutions to serve people and preserve and protect our common resources. </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">For more information on the project, visit </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 1.4em;">http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<strong style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=wu2WL9lpkU4:vmm1LRPoZ0U:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=wu2WL9lpkU4:vmm1LRPoZ0U:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=wu2WL9lpkU4:vmm1LRPoZ0U:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=wu2WL9lpkU4:vmm1LRPoZ0U:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/wu2WL9lpkU4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>aboutEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsTue, 03 Mar 2015 14:29:43 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14606 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/people-planet-profit-rise-triple-bottom-line-businesses-0Volatile Cotton Sector Struggles to Balance Cost and Benefitshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/XLD-B-Vyyjg/volatile-cotton-sector-struggles-balance-cost-and-benefits-1
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores trends and impacts of global cotton production</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | February 17</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/volatile-cotton-sector-struggles-balance-cost-and-benefits" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Cotton PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/volatile-cotton-sector-struggles-balance-cost-and-benefits" target="_blank"><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Volatile Cotton Sector Struggles to Balance Cost and Benefits</span></a></strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-plastic-production-rises-recycling-lags" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Growing cotton provides livelihoods for an estimated 100 million households in as many as 85 countries. But adverse global market conditions and reliance on large doses of water, fertilizer, and pesticides impose considerable social and environmental costs, writes Michael Renner, senior researcher at the Worldwatch Institute, in the Institute&rsquo;s latest Vital Signs Online article (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>Although synthetic materials are making inroads, cotton remains by far the most important natural fiber for textiles. In 2013/14, an estimated 26.3 million tons of cotton were produced worldwide.</p><p>Cultivating cotton accounts for about 3 percent of all agricultural water use worldwide. Countries that import cotton or finished cotton products also bring in large amounts of embedded &ldquo;virtual water&rdquo; with these imports and have considerable water footprints. Producing a pair of jeans takes an estimated 10,850 liters of water, and a t-shirt takes 2,720 liters.</p><p>The legions of small cotton farmers around the world face a set of challenges largely beyond their control. In addition to unfair subsidies (totaling $47 billion between 2001 and 2010 for the United States, China, and Europe), they must deal with health risks from pesticide use and, in some cases, insurmountable levels of debt.</p><p>Cotton is a very pesticide-intensive crop (accounting for 16 percent of global insecticide use and 6.8 percent of herbicide use), with potential repercussions, such as pest resistance and adverse health impacts on farmers that range from acute poisoning to long-term effects. Pesticides and fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash) can also leach out of the plant&rsquo;s root zone and contaminate groundwater and surface water.</p><p>Sadly, severe indebtedness has caused an estimated 100,000 cotton farmers in India to commit suicide over a 10-year period. Indebtedness results from numerous factors, including the rising cost of pesticides and genetically modified seeds, low yields due to droughts, and the declining price that cotton fetches on world markets.</p><p>Several initiatives exist to improve the social and environmental conditions under which cotton is produced. In organic production, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are replaced with organic substances, soil fertility management, and integrated pest management. Fair trade producers, usually small family farms organized in cooperatives or associations, receive a minimum price covering the average costs of sustainable production, as well as a premium.</p><p>One effort, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), seeks to reduce the environmental impact of cotton production, improve the livelihoods of farmers, and promote decent work. In 2013, just 3.7 percent of all cotton was produced in accordance with BCI principles, but the goal for 2020 is to extend this to 30 percent and to involve 5 million farmers. Such initiatives offer important benefits to cotton farmers. But for the moment, at least, they account for only a relatively small share of the industry.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/volatile-cotton-sector-struggles-balance-cost-and-benefits" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;</span><strong><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/volatile-cotton-sector-struggles-balance-cost-and-benefits" target="_blank"><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Volatile Cotton Sector Struggles to Balance Cost and Benefits</span></a></strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=XLD-B-Vyyjg:mRUgSmbZnJ0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=XLD-B-Vyyjg:mRUgSmbZnJ0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=XLD-B-Vyyjg:mRUgSmbZnJ0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=XLD-B-Vyyjg:mRUgSmbZnJ0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/XLD-B-Vyyjg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>human rightsIndiairrigationlabormaterialsorganic agriculturepesticidesPresstradeVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs Onlinewater pollutionEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsFri, 13 Feb 2015 19:58:09 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14594 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/volatile-cotton-sector-struggles-balance-cost-and-benefits-1No Jobs on a Dead Planet: Trade Unions Join the Transition to a Greener Economyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/pcXbnfmVAcI/no-jobs-dead-planet-trade-unions-join-transition-greener-economy
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">PRESS RELEASE | Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=SOW%202014%20inquiry">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For release: Tuesday, February 10, 2015</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Jobs PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 210px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>Notes to Editors</u>:&nbsp;</strong>To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2014&nbsp;</em></a>or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>About the Worldwatch Institute</u>:&nbsp;</strong>Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><em>State of the World&nbsp;</em></a>report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><img alt="" src="/system/files/cover.jpg" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><font face="georgia"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>State of the World 2014:</b></span></a></font></p><p><font face="georgia"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank">Governing for Sustainability</a></font></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><em style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</em><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">State of the World 2014&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">explores </em><em>the employment challenges and opportunities of a transition to a sustainable economy</em></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Can the need to protect the environment be reconciled with the desire to safeguard jobs? Labor markets will shift to fit the demands of a greener economy as resources shrink and the climate changes. But with 38 percent of workers worldwide employed in carbon-intensive sectors like fossil fuel extraction and industrial manufacturing, this transition will be challenging. In </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2014</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">, contributing authors Judith Gouverneur and Nina Netzer point to the central role of trade unions in building a &ldquo;just transition&rdquo; toward a greener economy (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>Through the coming social and ecological transition, some jobs will be shifted or redefined to fit the new economy, such as moving from fossil fuels to renewables. Other jobs, however&mdash;such as those in the coal sector&mdash;will be lost or displaced to countries with laxer constraints on greenhouse gas emissions. A badly managed transition could have disastrous consequences on employment.</p><p>&ldquo;In modern societies, work is at the center of the relationship between nature and society&hellip;. Achieving sustainable ways of living is therefore inextricably linked to the way we decide to organize work in the future,&rdquo; write Gouverneur and Netzer. &ldquo;Parts of the trade union movement, as well as some individual unions, have accepted the reality that they need to become active participants in the transition toward sustainability.&rdquo;</p><p>To address the transition challenge, some trade unions have proposed a &ldquo;just transition,&rdquo; a concept coined in the 1990s that strengthens the view that environmental and social policies can reinforce each other. Using this approach, unions promote the employment potential of a green economy through innovation and technology as well as through resource efficiency.</p><p>Yet trade unions remain reluctant to step in as the main driver of the green transformation. And they often neglect the need to shift lifestyles and businesses away from the excessive use of goods, resources, and energy.</p><p>&ldquo;This is understandable insofar as the trade union movement, with its traditional goals of advancing worker interests, is deeply anchored within an economic system that bases wealth generation on continuous growth of production and consumption,&rdquo; write Gouverneur and Netzer.</p><p>But there are potential solutions. Lars Henriksson, a Swedish autoworker and political activist, suggests that unions aim not to preserve unsustainable industries in the name of employment, but to engage workers in developing sustainable conversion strategies. In 2009, for example, union representatives united with environmentalists, researchers, and citizen&rsquo;s groups to develop a sustainable transport plan in Europe after facing railroad privatization. Unions can also help to secure equitable redistribution of work by requiring continuing education and training, adapting existing social protection systems, and regulating staffing and wage agreements.</p><p>Trade unions have a central role in ensuring that the transition moves beyond a &ldquo;jobs versus environment&rdquo; debate and enables a shift to workers being drivers of change, rather than victims.</p><p>Worldwatch&rsquo;s<em>State of the World 2014</em> investigates the broad concept of &ldquo;governance&rdquo; for sustainability, including action by national governments, international organizations, and local communities. <em>State of the World 2014 also highlights the need for economic and political institutions to serve people and preserve and protect our common resources. </em>For more information on the project, visit <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability">http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<strong style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=pcXbnfmVAcI:lYKZqbKITCM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=pcXbnfmVAcI:lYKZqbKITCM:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=pcXbnfmVAcI:lYKZqbKITCM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=pcXbnfmVAcI:lYKZqbKITCM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/pcXbnfmVAcI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changegreen economicsgreen jobsminingEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsMon, 09 Feb 2015 20:11:25 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14588 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/no-jobs-dead-planet-trade-unions-join-transition-greener-economyGlobal Plastic Production Rises, Recycling Lagshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/V3-BTGXERvQ/global-plastic-production-rises-recycling-lags-0
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores trends in&nbsp;</em></font><em style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">global&nbsp;</em><em style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">plastic consumption and recycling</em></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | January 28</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-plastic-production-rises-recycling-lags" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Plastic_PR-Square_0.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-plastic-production-rises-recycling-lags" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><strong>Global Plastic Production Rises, Recycling Lags</strong></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-plastic-production-rises-recycling-lags" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">For more than 50 years, global production of plastic has continued to rise. Some 299 million tons of plastics were produced in 2013, representing a 4 percent increase over 2012. Recovery and recycling, however, remain insufficient, and millions of tons of plastics end up in landfills and oceans each year, writes Gaelle Gourmelon, Communications and Marketing Manager at the Worldwatch Institute, in the Institute&rsquo;s latest Vital Signs Online article (<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org">www.worldwatch.org</a>).</span></p><p>Worldwide plastic production has been growing as the durable, primarily petroleum-based material gradually replaces materials like glass and metal. Today, an average person living in Western Europe or North America consumes 100 kilograms of plastic each year, mostly in the form of packaging. Asia uses just 20 kilograms per person, but this figure is expected to grow rapidly as economies in the region expand.</p><p>According to the United Nations Environmental Program, between 22 percent and 43 percent of the plastic used worldwide is disposed of in landfills, where its resources are wasted, the material takes up valuable space, and it blights communities. Recovering plastic from the waste stream for recycling or for combustion for energy generation has the potential to minimize these problems. However, much of the plastic collected for recycling is shipped to countries with lower environmental regulation. And burning plastic for energy requires air emissions controls and produces hazardous ash, all while being relatively inefficient.</p><p>Most plastic scraps from the United States, Europe, and other countries that have established collection systems flow to China, which receives 56 percent (by weight) of waste plastic imports worldwide. Indirect evidence suggests that most of this imported plastic is reprocessed at low-tech, family-run facilities with no environmental protection controls, such as proper disposal of contaminants or waste water. There are also concerns that low-quality plastics are not reused but are disposed of or incinerated for energy in plants that lack air pollution control systems. Through its 2010 Green Fence Operation, the Chinese government has started to work to reduce the number unregulated facilities.</p><p>Approximately 10&ndash;20 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year. A recent study conservatively estimated that 5.25 trillion plastic particles weighing a total of 268,940 tons are currently floating in the world&rsquo;s oceans. This plastic debris results in an estimated $13 billion a year in losses from damage to marine ecosystems, including financial losses to fisheries and tourism as well as time spent cleaning beaches. Animals such as seabirds, whales, and dolphins can become entangled in plastic matter, and floating plastic items&mdash;such as discarded nets, docks, and boats&mdash;can transport microbes, algae, invertebrates, and fish into non-native regions, affecting the local ecosystems.</p><p>The environmental and social benefits of plastics must be weighed against the problems that the durability and high volume of this material present to the waste stream. Plastics help to reduce food waste by keeping products fresh longer, allow for the manufacture of life-saving healthcare equipment, reduce packaging mass compared with other materials, improve transportation efficiency, and have large potential for use in renewable energy technologies. But plastic litter, gyres of plastics in the oceans, and toxic additives in plastic products&mdash;including colorants, flame retardants, and plasticizers (such as bisphenol A, or BPA)&mdash;are raising awareness of and strengthening consumer demand for more sustainable materials.</p><p>Along with reducing unnecessary plastic consumption, finding more environmentally friendly packaging alternatives, and improving product and packaging design to use less plastic, many challenges associated with plastics could be addressed by improving management of the material across its life cycle.</p><p>Businesses and consumers could increase their participation in collection in order to move plastic waste toward a recovery supply chain, and companies could switch to greater use of recycled plastics. Governments must regulate the plastic supply chain to encourage and monitor recycling.</p><p><strong>Report highlights:</strong></p><ul><li style="margin-left: 38.4pt;">About 4 percent of the petroleum consumed worldwide each year is used to make plastic, and another 4 percent is used to power plastic manufacturing processes.</li><li style="margin-left: 38.4pt;">In Europe, 26 percent, or 6.6 million tons, of the post-consumer plastic produced in 2012 was recycled, while 36 percent was incinerated for energy generation. The remaining 38 percent of post-consumer plastics in Europe went to landfills.</li><li style="margin-left: 38.4pt;"><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">In the United States, only 9 percent of post-consumer plastic (2.8 million tons) was recycled in 2012. The remaining 32 million tons was discarded.</span></li></ul><p style="margin-left: 38.4pt; text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-plastic-production-rises-recycling-lags" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-plastic-production-rises-recycling-lags" target="_blank"><strong>Global Plastic Production Rises, Recycling Lags</strong></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=V3-BTGXERvQ:8eKf8IMdg7k:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=V3-BTGXERvQ:8eKf8IMdg7k:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=V3-BTGXERvQ:8eKf8IMdg7k:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=V3-BTGXERvQ:8eKf8IMdg7k:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/V3-BTGXERvQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>ChinaEuropean Unionfossil fuelsmaterialsoilplasticsrecyclingtradeUnited StatesVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs Onlinewastewater pollutionwildlifeEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsWed, 28 Jan 2015 15:59:43 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14576 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/global-plastic-production-rises-recycling-lags-0Paper Production Levels Off, Environmental Footprint Still Highhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/KxWW5puzjoM/paper-production-levels-environmental-footprint-still-high
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores trends in&nbsp;</em></font><em style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">global&nbsp;</em><em style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">paper consumption and recycling</em></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | January 20</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2015</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/paper-production-levels" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Copy of this is (1).png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/paper-production-levels" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><strong style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Paper Production Levels Off</strong></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/paper-production-levels" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">In wealthy countries, paper is ubiquitous and is often fated to be discarded soon after purchase, with only a portion recovered for recycling. Although slow improvements have been made in production methods and in the recovery of paper products, additional progress is needed to reduce the industry&rsquo;s environmental impacts, writes <a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/user/117" target="_blank">Michael Renner</a>, senior researcher at the Worldwatch Institute, in the Institute&rsquo;s latest Vital Signs Online article (<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org">www.worldwatch.org</a>).</span></p><p>According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 397.6 million tons of paper and paperboard were produced worldwide in 2013. Most of the paper produced today (54 percent in 2013) is used for wrapping and packaging purposes, followed by printing and writing (26 percent), newsprint (7 percent), and household and sanitary tissues (8 percent).</p><p>Just four countries&mdash;China, the United States, Japan, and Germany&mdash;together account for more than half of the world&rsquo;s paper production. The United States historically was the largest producer by far, but has since been eclipsed by China.</p><p>Paper consumption in North America, Europe, and Japan has declined in recent years, shifting to other parts of the world. But on a per capita basis, wealthy countries continue to use far greater amounts than developing countries do&mdash;on average, 221 kilograms (kg) in North America and 125 kg in Europe, compared with 45 kg in Asia, 43 kg in Latin America and the Caribbean, and just 7 kg in Africa, in 2012.</p><p>Paper recycling helps to reduce energy use and pollution. On average, fibers can be recycled five to seven times before they become unusable. Recycled paper requires 60 percent less energy and 80 percent less water to produce than virgin paper, and it generates 95 percent less air pollution. Recycling one ton of paper on average saves 26,500 liters of water, about 318 liters of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity.</p><p>According to the FAO, recovered paper production totaled 215 million tons in 2013, equal to 54 percent of the world paper supply.&nbsp;This is up from about 20 percent in the early 1960s.</p><p>The pulp and paper industry is a large consumer of energy and water, as well as a user of toxic chemicals. In the United States, the paper industry is the third largest energy user among manufacturing industries, accounting for 11 percent of domestic energy consumption in 2010. Chlorine bleaching of paper can result in the formation of toxic compounds such as dioxins and furans. Since the 1990s, most paper mills in Europe and North America, as well as modern ones in China, have moved either toward elemental chlorine free&mdash;a safer, although still harmful process&mdash;or toward totally chlorine-free paper.</p><p>Chinese paper producers have lagged in efficiency. In 2010, a typical U.S. or European paper mill used 0.9&ndash;1.2 tons of coal and about 35&ndash;50 tons of water per ton of pulp, while Chinese mills averaged 1.4 tons of coal and 103 tons of water.&nbsp;To reduce emissions and effluents, the Chinese government has mandated closure of the most polluting mills, while more modern mills have begun operations.</p><p>Decreasing paper&rsquo;s footprint requires continued progress in minimizing unnecessary paper consumption and avoiding waste, in raising paper recovery and recycled content, in ensuring that virgin fiber is derived from sustainable sources, and in using less polluting and less energy-intensive paper production methods.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/paper-production-levels" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/paper-production-levels" target="_blank"><strong style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Paper Production Levels Off</strong></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=KxWW5puzjoM:jXQhGmsizeY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=KxWW5puzjoM:jXQhGmsizeY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=KxWW5puzjoM:jXQhGmsizeY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=KxWW5puzjoM:jXQhGmsizeY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/KxWW5puzjoM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>consumerismmaterialsPressrecyclingtradeVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs OnlinewasteEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsTue, 20 Jan 2015 16:01:17 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14571 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/paper-production-levels-environmental-footprint-still-highGreen or Greedy? Corporations’ Role in Global Sustainable Developmenthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/MlkrHB1NAOY/green-or-greedy-corporations%E2%80%99-role-global-sustainable-development
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">PRESS RELEASE | Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=SOW%202014%20inquiry">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For release: Tuesday, January 13, 2014</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Corporations_square.png" style="width: 250px; height: 265px;" /></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>Notes to Editors</u>:&nbsp;</strong>To schedule interviews, obtain a review copy of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><em>State of the World 2014&nbsp;</em></a>or for more information, please contact Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong><u>About the Worldwatch Institute</u>:&nbsp;</strong>Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><em>State of the World&nbsp;</em></a>report is published annually in multiple languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;"><img alt="" src="/system/files/cover.jpg" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><font face="georgia"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>State of the World 2014:</b></span></a></font></p><p><font face="georgia"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" target="_blank">Governing for Sustainability</a></font></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><em style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;</em><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">State of the World 2014&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: -webkit-center;">explores </em><em>the shifting role of corporations in the UN&#39;s global effort for sustainability</em></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">As national governments flounder to resolve pressing global challenges, corporations are positioning themselves within the United Nations framework as efficient players and indispensable partners in international policy debates. But with their immense economic and political sway, can corporations be brought to the development table without the &ldquo;corporate capture&rdquo; of governance? In the Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">State of the World 2014: Governing for Sustainability</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">, contributing author Lou Pingeot, policy adviser at Global Policy Forum, explains the need for accountability and transparency as corporations join the development discussion (<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability">bit.ly/SoW2014</a>).</span></p><p>Already, business groups&mdash;especially large multinational corporations&mdash;have become very active in post-2015 UN initiatives. And, not surprisingly, various business reports now present economic growth and a market-based approach, rather than government regulation, as unambiguous solutions for poverty reduction and economic development.</p><p>&ldquo;Making the business case for sustainable development may be seen as a pragmatic approach,&rdquo; writes Pingeot. &ldquo;This begs the question, however, of what to do when necessary efforts for the public good do not constitute a good investment for the private sector.&rdquo;</p><p>Future solutions may depend on moving away from the &ldquo;business-as-usual&rdquo; trajectory, in which people are seen as consumers and entrepreneurs, to one that considers them as multifaceted citizens. But with powerful economic actors currently benefiting greatly from the business-as-usual model, they may have a strong interest in resisting far-reaching structural transformation toward sustainability.</p><p>The mining industry is particularly over-represented in some UN initiatives. One in five of the 30 corporate representatives in the UN&rsquo;s Sustainable Development Solutions Network&mdash;which includes representation from Anglo American and Vale, for example&mdash;have ties to the mining industry.</p><p>&ldquo;It could be argued that these companies are precisely the ones that should be involved because of their important impact on development, human rights, and the environment,&rdquo; says Pingeot. &ldquo;However, the mining and oil and gas sectors also have the most incentive to delay or limit the transition to sustainable development, so as to protect their profit sources and ultimately their existence.&rdquo;</p><p>There is merit in&mdash;and necessity for&mdash;cooperation in order to make large-scale changes in business practice. Some pioneering industries have already begun to lead the path to sustainable development solutions. But the corporate entry into international development will require important reforms for transparency and accountability. The UN will need to adopt a systemwide conflict-of-interest policy and to report funding sources with full transparency. It must clearly define criteria for business participation, excluding players that have broken UN sanctions, lobbied against international agreements, or otherwise violated environmental, social, and human rights conventions.</p><p>Avoiding the undue influence of business actors on the post-2015 agenda, while still encouraging private sector participation, will require a major shift in UN norms and policies toward more stringent transparency and accountability.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Worldwatch&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>State of the World 2014 </strong></em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">investigates the broad concept of &ldquo;governance&rdquo; for sustainability, including action by national governments, international organizations, and local communities. </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">I</em><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">t also highlights the need for economic and political institutions to serve people and to preserve and protect our common resources</em><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">.</em><em style="line-height: 1.4em;"> </em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">For more information on the project, visit </span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability" style="line-height: 1.4em;">http://www.worldwatch.org/state-world-2014-governing-sustainability</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=MlkrHB1NAOY:JqCzn6x-dbI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=MlkrHB1NAOY:JqCzn6x-dbI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=MlkrHB1NAOY:JqCzn6x-dbI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=MlkrHB1NAOY:JqCzn6x-dbI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/MlkrHB1NAOY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>corporate social responsibilitygovernanceminingEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsMon, 12 Jan 2015 22:33:14 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14557 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/green-or-greedy-corporations%E2%80%99-role-global-sustainable-developmentClimate Concerns Rise Alongside Growing Global Coal Consumptionhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/1lMelF-pkR8/climate-concerns-rise-alongside-growing-global-coal-consumption
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores trends in coal consumption and global energy policies</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | December 22</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2014</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-coal-consumption-keeps-rising-growth-slowing" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Coal for PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;<a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-coal-consumption-keeps-rising-growth-slowing" target="_blank">Global Coal Consumption Keeps Rising, But Growth is Slowing</a></span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-coal-consumption-keeps-rising-growth-slowing" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Global coal consumption rose 3 percent from 2012 to 2013, reaching over 3,800 million tons of oil equivalent (mtoe) in 2013. While the pace of growth is down from 7.1 percent in 2010, the continued increase in coal consumption and related carbon emissions is a cause for substantial concern among climate scientists. If this trend continues, attempts to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius will likely fail, writes Christoph von Friedeburg, a research fellow at the Worldwatch Institute, in the Institute&rsquo;s latest Vital Signs Online article (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>Looking at recent developments by region, energy-hungry emerging economies, such as China and India, have been driving the expansion in coal use since the beginning of this century. In contrast, coal consumption in the United States and the European Union (EU) is declining. These countries have been replacing part of their coal consumption with natural gas and renewable energy, although China is taking steps in the same direction.</p><p>Coal demand in China has almost tripled since 2000, rising from 683.5 mtoe to 1,933.1 mtoe in 2013&mdash;more than half of the global figure. To meet coal demand, the nation so far has been relying on its domestic production. But analysts doubt that this is sustainable for another decade or longer. As imported coal has become competitive, China&rsquo;s imports have outweighed its exports since 2009.</p><p>To diversify its energy sources, the Chinese government increased its capacity, investments, and exports in renewable energy technology, making the nation a new world leader in renewable energy. Furthermore, China is looking into increased imports and domestic extraction of natural gas, all while reducing the nation&acute;s energy intensity.</p><p>In the United States, coal consumption has been in retreat since the start of the domestic shale gas boom. These trends could change in coming years if, as some analysts predict, many of the wells for hydraulic fracturing run dry and natural gas prices rise again, or if substantial exports of liquefied natural gas begin.</p><p>Coal consumption in the EU has been on a marked downward trend since 1990.This trend is mostly attributable tothe EU&acute;s flat overall energy consumption since 1990 and to coal&rsquo;s falling share in EU primary energy consumption. Policies and financial incentives that raised the share provided by renewables contribute to this shift.</p><p>The coal supply is getting &ldquo;dirtier&rdquo; as strong demand and lower prices create markets for coal with lower energy content. In 2012, for instance, the average heat content of coal produced in the United States was about 23.4 megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg), down from 29.17 MJ/kg in 2005. This means that more and more coal needs to be burned to generate the same amount of heat for a desired electricity output.</p><p>If coal consumption continues to increase and no meaningful binding multilateral agreements on climate change are made, attempts to combat global climate change will likely fail. One source of hope is that the combination of decreasing energy intensity and declining costs of renewables will cause coal&acute;s share to keep shrinking and stop the global rise in the use of the dirtiest energy source.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/will-population-growth-end-century" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;<a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-coal-consumption-keeps-rising-growth-slowing" target="_blank">Global Coal Consumption Keeps Rising, But Growth is Slowing</a></span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=1lMelF-pkR8:-mbbMFGAyJY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=1lMelF-pkR8:-mbbMFGAyJY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=1lMelF-pkR8:-mbbMFGAyJY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=1lMelF-pkR8:-mbbMFGAyJY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/1lMelF-pkR8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>air pollutionChinacoalelectricity productionemissions reductionsEuropean Unionfossil fuelsVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs OnlineClimate & Energypress roomNewsMon, 22 Dec 2014 14:00:00 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14552 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/climate-concerns-rise-alongside-growing-global-coal-consumptionWill Population Growth End in This Century?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/mrIkoH5Bgs8/will-population-growth-end-century-0
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores the debate about our planet&#39;s future population</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | December 18</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2014</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/will-population-growth-end-century" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Population for PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/will-population-growth-end-century" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">Will Population Growth End in This Century?</span></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/will-population-growth-end-century" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">The human population nearly tripled from 2.5 billion people in 1950 to 7.3 billion today and will continue growing through 2070, according to two recent demographic projections. After that, demographers disagree on whether populations will begin to shrink or continue to rise into the next century, write Worldwatch Institute Senior Fellow Robert Engelman and Research Assistant Yeneneh Terefe in the Institute&rsquo;s latest Vital Signs Online article (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>Two population projections&mdash;one from the United Nations Population Division, the other from the International Institute for Applied&nbsp; Systems Analysis (IIASA)&mdash;agree on how population has grown until now. But their future scenarios document a breakdown in consensus.</p><p>U.N. demographers rely on a methodology that applies past behavior and expert opinion about the future to assign quantified probabilities to various population outcomes. Defying a widespread media and public perception that a stationary world population of 9 billion in 2050 is a near certainty, the U.N. analysts report that the most likely long-term future is for continued growth into the 22nd century.</p><p>Demographers associated with IIASA, based in Laxenburg, Austria, however, differ with this analysis. They foresee world population peaking around 2070 at 9.4 billion people and then gradually shrinking to 8.9 billion by the century&rsquo;s end.</p><p>The disagreement between these two respected groups of population researchers lies in their varying assumptions, mostly regarding two topics: Africa and the future of education. The U.N. demographers point to recent surveys showing that human fertility (defined as the average number of children that women in a population give birth to over their lifetimes) is not falling in some countries as earlier projections had assumed they would.</p><p>The IIASA demographers, by contrast, focus largely on educational trends. In every region of the world, including Africa, the proportion of young people enrolled in school has generally been rising. and these rates are likely to continue to rise, the analysts argue. Because even moderately high levels of educational attainment are associated with reductions in fertility, fertility even in high-fertility countries is likely to fall more than current fertility trends on their own suggest, the demographers reason.</p><p>Two Australian environmental scientists, Corey J. A. Bradshaw and Barry W. Brook, recently published another set of population projections&mdash;with a twist. They add scenarios in which humanity experiences increases in the deaths of children due to climate change or outright demographic catastrophes due to &ldquo;global pandemic or war.&rdquo; In their most extreme scenario, 6 billion people die in the early 2040s, in which case human population would decline to about 5 billion by 2100.</p><p>The Australian analysts are non-demographers engaging in a one-off thought exercise. But the significant differences among the various projections tell us something important about population and the human future. Despite general perceptions that demographers confidently forecast future population, no one knows when population will stop growing or the level at which it will peak. Moreover, the future of population growth may respond to decisions made today, so ideally these decisions would support a reduced incidence of unintended pregnancy (now about 40 percent of all pregnancies globally) rather than allow environmental and social conditions to deteriorate until death rates reverse their historic decline.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/will-population-growth-end-century" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/will-population-growth-end-century" target="_blank"><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Will Population Growth End in This Century?</span></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=mrIkoH5Bgs8:eItvpM1QyT4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=mrIkoH5Bgs8:eItvpM1QyT4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=mrIkoH5Bgs8:eItvpM1QyT4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=mrIkoH5Bgs8:eItvpM1QyT4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/mrIkoH5Bgs8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>European UnionpopulationPressVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs OnlineEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsThu, 18 Dec 2014 22:28:04 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14547 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/will-population-growth-end-century-0Making the Connection: Population Dynamics and Climate Compatible Developmenthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/aE2CouvPDsI/making-connection-population-dynamics-and-climate-compatible-development-0
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">PRESS RELEASE</strong><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;| Contact <a href="mailto:rengelman@worldwatch.org">R</a><a href="mailto:rengelman@worldwatch.org">OBERT ENGELMAN</a>&nbsp;| For release: Friday, December 19, 2014</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/14-662 PRB FactSheet - PopClimate_FINAL_WEB.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/PRB Factsheet screenshot_small.png" style="line-height: 15px; width: 250px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; height: 321px;" /></a></p><h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 4.2pt; line-height: 15pt; text-align: center; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/14-662 PRB FactSheet - PopClimate_FINAL_WEB.pdf" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-align: left; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">Making the Connection: Population Dynamics and Climate Compatible Development</span></strong></a></h2><h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 4.2pt; line-height: 15pt; text-align: center; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">&nbsp;</h2></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Notes to Editors:</span></b></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><strong>The Fact Sheet and recommendations are now available&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/14-662%20PRB%20FactSheet%20-%20PopClimate_FINAL_WEB.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.&nbsp;</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">For additional information, please contact&nbsp;</span><a href="http://rengelman@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Robert Engelman</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;or&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:jbremner@prb.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Jason Bremner</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.prb.org" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/PRB.png" style="width: 200px; height: 98px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Transparent GIF (for powerpoints).gif" style="width: 200px; height: 61px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center; border-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"><p><strong>Related projects by Worldwatch:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/family-planning-and-environmental-sustainability-assessment" style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/family_planning_madagascar_120.120.png" style="width: 120px; height: 120px;" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/family-planning-and-environmental-sustainability-assessment" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Palatino, Times New Roman', Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 20px;">Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability Assessment</span></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><em>Experts provide recommendations to improve access to family planning for climate compatible development</em></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Policymakers and others working to slow human-caused climate change and make societies more resilient to its impacts should consider potential contributions to that effort from expanded access to family planning, a group of experts recommends.</span></p><p>The first step is simply to open dialogues on possible connections between climate change and family planning, and the right of individuals and the services they need to decide for themselves the timing and frequency of childbearing, said the experts. The group, which explored the linkage of population dynamics and family planning to climate compatible development, was convened by <strong>Population Reference Bureau</strong> (<a href="http://www.prb.org/" target="_blank">www.prb.org</a>) and the <strong>Worldwatch Institute </strong>(<a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/">www.worldwatch.org</a>). Members came from fields related both to climate change and reproductive health.</p><p>&ldquo;This is a clear statement from a diverse group of climate and reproductive health experts, women and men from developing as well as developed countries,&rdquo; said <strong>Robert Engelman</strong>, Senior Fellow and former President of the Worldwatch Institute. &ldquo;The group strongly recommends expanding access to family planning, with one of its many benefits being that it helps support development that is compatible with a sustainable climate.&rdquo;</p><p>Over the last hundred years, the world&rsquo;s population has grown from around 1 billion people to more than 7 billion people. Human activity has transformed vast areas of the Earth&rsquo;s surface, altered the atmosphere, and resulted in thousands of plant and animal species extinctions.&nbsp; Achieving universal access to family planning throughout the world would result in fewer unintended pregnancies, improve the health and well-being of women and their families, and slow population growth&mdash;all benefits to climate compatible development.</p><p>Population and family planning have rarely been linked with climate compatible development in climate policy discussions. Research has demonstrated, however, that helping women in all countries achieve their own aspirations for planning pregnancies and family size would put the world on a path to slower population growth. This would ultimately lead to substantial reductions in future carbon dioxide emissions.</p><p>Connections within family planning-climate change connections are presented from a woman-centered and rights-based approach. When safe and effective family planning services are available to all, experience shows that average family size falls, pregnancies occur at more optimal times in women&rsquo;s lives, and mothers and children are healthier and more able to contribute to their countries&rsquo; development&mdash;and are more resilient to rapid change.</p><p>&ldquo;Family planning can be a sensitive topic, especially when linked to climate change or the environment generally,&rdquo; Engelman said. &ldquo;These experts are saying it&rsquo;s okay to talk about, okay to support, so long as we insist that its availability is rooted in human rights and the free reproductive decisions of individual women and couples. There are many steps needed to advance climate compatible development, such as addressing unequal greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change impacts. One of these important steps is to make sure that individuals and couples can choose safe and effective contraception to have the pregnancies they want and to avoid those they do not.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The work of this group of population, climate, family planning, and development experts illustrates that you can have a positive, women centered dialogue on these connections,&rdquo; adds <strong>Jason Bremner</strong>, Associate Vice President at the Population Reference Bureau. &ldquo;This positive conversation and the establishment of a common set of guiding principles were critical in arriving at the consensus statement and will help others interested in making these connections avoid past missteps.&nbsp;The action opportunities developed by this group chart a path forward for researchers, advocates, and policymakers. These actions could ensure that improved access to family planning figures among the efforts to address climate change and its impacts.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Linking population, reproductive health, and climate change is unconventional for many policymakers. Cross-sectoral alliances and initiatives that highlight and integrate potential synergies in development plans and in climate finance programs could reap enormous benefits, especially over time, for individuals and societies as we tackle climate change.</p><p><strong>The Fact Sheet and recommendations are now available </strong><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/14-662%20PRB%20FactSheet%20-%20PopClimate_FINAL_WEB.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>The group&rsquo;s final report will be available at www.prb.org/About/ ProgramsProjects/PHE.&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align: center; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><strong style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Notes to Editors:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">For additional information, please contact <a href="http://rengelman@worldwatch.org">Robert Engelman</a> or <a href="mailto:jbremner@prb.org">Jason Bremner</a>.</span></p><p><strong>About the Population Reference Bureau</strong>: The Population Reference Bureau informs people around the world about population, health, and the environment, and empowers them to use that information to advance the well-being of current and future generations. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prb.org/" target="_blank">www.prb.org</a>.</p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">: Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. Worldwatch develops innovative solutions to intractable problems, emphasizing a blend of government leadership, private sector enterprise, and citizen action that can make a sustainable future a reality. For more information, visit&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=aE2CouvPDsI:jy71ele6sK8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=aE2CouvPDsI:jy71ele6sK8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=aE2CouvPDsI:jy71ele6sK8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=aE2CouvPDsI:jy71ele6sK8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/aE2CouvPDsI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changeglobal warmingpopulationEnvironment & Societypress roomNewsThu, 18 Dec 2014 21:30:35 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14550 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/making-connection-population-dynamics-and-climate-compatible-development-0Global Energy and Carbon Intensity Continue to Declinehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/Jf2F2Flyz04/global-energy-and-carbon-intensity-continue-decline-0
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis examines trends in energy and carbon emissions globally</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | December 17</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2014</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-energy-and-carbon-intensity-continue-decline" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/E and C Intensity for PR.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 17.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 17.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-energy-and-carbon-intensity-continue-decline" style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Global Energy and Carbon Intensity Continue to Decline</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 17.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 17.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 17.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 17.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 17.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-energy-and-carbon-intensity-continue-decline" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Global energy intensity, defined as worldwide total energy consumption divided by gross world product, decreased 0.19 percent in 2013. Although this may not seem impressive, considering that energy intensity </span><em style="line-height: 1.4em;">increased</em><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> steeply between 2008 and 2010, this small decline continues a much-needed trend toward lower energy intensity, writes Haibing Ma, China Program Manager at the Worldwatch Institute (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">).</span></p><p>Although a growing economy generally correlates with growing absolute energy use, energy intensity may well decline. In the 1990s, industrial economies started to turn to a new growth paradigm that relied heavily on service sectors. This &ldquo;knowledge-based economy&rdquo; is much less energy-intensive than the economic model that most nations adopted during industrialization. As a result, global energy intensity decreased 13.72 percent during the 1990s&mdash;the largest drop in the past 50 years.</p><p>The situation has been vastly different in the new millennium, however. While the first decade saw great volatility, with two upward surges during 2002&ndash;04 and 2008&ndash;10, the period between 2004 and 2008, saw a decrease in intensity of 3.50 percent. In the early years of the decade, large emerging economies like China started investing heavily in energy-intensive sectors, and after the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, many countries implemented massive stimulus packages focused on energy-intensive sectors like manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure. But as the world economy began to recover after 2010, the previous pattern of global energy intensity reductions resumed.</p><p>Carbon intensity&mdash;defined as total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) divided by gross world product&mdash;is another important environmental indicator. Global carbon intensity has followed the same general pattern of energy intensity, dropping 36.62 percent overall between 1990 and 2013, but rising between 2002 and 2004. After 2008, probably because of the impact of the economic recession, the decline in global carbon intensity generally slowed, although 2013 brought a slightly more rapid pace than in previous years. Advanced economies show a steadier decline in carbon intensity than newly industrialized and transitional countries do. &nbsp;</p><p>In 2006, China surpassed the United States as the world&rsquo;s largest CO<sub>2</sub> emitter. Realizing the risk, the Chinese government has been taking aggressive efforts to slow its CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. In its climate action annual report released in November 2014, China claims that its carbon intensity decreased 4.3 percent between 2012 and 2013 and dropped 28.56 percent from the 2005 level. World Bank data show lower drops of 3.61 percent and 24.97 percent, respectively.</p><p>At a meeting in Beijing in November 2014, President Obama and President Xi issued a joint announcement in which China proposed to peak its carbon emissions by 2030. The critical question is at what number this peak will be achieved. Further reducing the economy&rsquo;s carbon intensity will help to achieve a lower peak than otherwise possible.</p><p>Global energy intensity and carbon intensity are essentially measuring the efficiency with which human economic activities interact with nature. To ensure a sustainable development path globally, these two indicators need to be watched closely.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-energy-and-carbon-intensity-continue-decline" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/global-energy-and-carbon-intensity-continue-decline" target="_blank"><span style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">Global Energy and Carbon Intensity Continue to Decline</span></a><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 17.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="400" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/42839606" width="476"></iframe></p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=Jf2F2Flyz04:_CJARrf3-MY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=Jf2F2Flyz04:_CJARrf3-MY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=Jf2F2Flyz04:_CJARrf3-MY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=Jf2F2Flyz04:_CJARrf3-MY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/Jf2F2Flyz04" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>climate changeelectricity productionemissions reductionsenergy intensityrenewable energysolar powerVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs Onlinewind powerClimate & Energypress roomNewsWed, 17 Dec 2014 17:43:11 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14544 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/global-energy-and-carbon-intensity-continue-decline-0Greenhouse Gas Increases Are Leading to a Faster Rate of Global Warminghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/3mCuzPsHVTM/greenhouse-gas-increases-are-leading-faster-rate-global-warming-0
<!--paging_filter--><p><font face="georgia" size="4"><em>New Worldwatch Institute analysis examines trends in greenhouse gas emissions and reduction efforts</em></font></p><p><strong style="font-family: georgia;">For Immediate Release | December 15</strong><strong style="font-family: georgia;">, 2014</strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span><strong style="font-family: georgia;">CONTACT&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">GAELLE GOURMELON</a></strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/greenhouse-gas-increases-are-leading-faster-rate-global-warming" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/GHG PR square.png" style="width: 250px; height: 250px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong>Notes to Editors: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Journalists may <strong>obtain a complimentary copy</strong> of&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/greenhouse-gas-increases-are-leading-faster-rate-global-warming" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">Greenhouse Gas Increases Are Leading to a Faster Rate of Global Warming</span></a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot;&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About the Worldwatch Institute:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>State of the World</em>&nbsp;report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0015oJsdoSs25oJPGv7ktJRWgX6GyQ_98itsQ5wXa9eKtj6nN7ZSxBHVW5O2QwJEbFEUl_8j0zopxWPe6eVPG_wP-9L3GuNT9bEti10fTvMfVrYf78tSo63WQ==#_blank" target="_blank">www.worldwatch.org</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">About Vital Signs Online:</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Vital Signs Online provides business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens with the latest data and analysis they need to understand critical global trends. It is an interactive, subscription-based tool that provides hard data and research-based insights on the sustainability trends that are shaping our future. All of the trends include clear analysis and are placed in historical perspective, allowing you to see where the trend has come from and where it might be headed. New trends cover emerging hot topics-from global carbon emissions to green jobs-while trend updates provide the latest data and analysis for the fastest changing and most important trends today. Every trend includes full datasets and complete referencing.</p><p style="line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> today to Vital Signs Online!</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/vitalsigns-logo.gif" style="width: 265px; height: 58px;" /></a></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/greenhouse-gas-increases-are-leading-faster-rate-global-warming" target="_blank"><font face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Visit our Vital Signs Online website for a preview of this trend analysis</b></span></font></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><font face="georgia" size="3" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><strong>Washington, D.C.</strong>&mdash;</font><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">According to the most recent estimates, 2014 emissions of carbon dioxide (CO</span><sub style="line-height: 1.4em;">2</sub><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">), the main contributor to global climate change, are projected to be 2.5 percent higher than 2013 levels, which translates into the release of 37 billion additional tons of CO</span><sub style="line-height: 1.4em;">2</sub><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&nbsp;into the atmosphere.&nbsp;As negotiators wrap up their talks at the international climate conference in Lima, Peru, there is no indication that this trend will change soon. Scientists estimate that future emissions should not exceed 1,200 billion tons of CO</span><sub style="line-height: 1.4em;">2</sub><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">, in order to keep Earth&#39;s temperature increase to no more than 2 degrees Celsius and to avoid severe and irreversible environmental effects. Yet at the current rate of emissions, this remaining &ldquo;quota&rdquo; would be used up in less than a generation, writes Joel Stronberg, contributing author for the Worldwatch Institute&rsquo;s (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;">www.worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">) Vital Signs Online.&nbsp;</span></p><p>As in 2013, the primary emitters in 2014 from the combustion of fossil fuels are expected to be China (28 percent), the United States (14 percent), the European Union (10 percent), and India (7 percent).&nbsp;In emissions per person, however, the United States ranks first with more than twice the per capita emissions of China, ranked second.&nbsp;There is a continued geographic shift in emissions from industrialized to developing countries.</p><p>The three other major greenhouse gases responsible for climate change are methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. Natural gas production and agriculture are major contributors of methane, a super-potent gas that traps&nbsp;86 times&nbsp;the heat of CO<sub>2</sub>.Satellite photos show that methane leakage from the drilling and pipeline delivery of natural gas offsets any CO<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;benefits that natural gas may bring over coal during combustion and use.</p><p>Energy supply, industrial processes, forestry, agriculture, and transportation account for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;An expanding world population and the growth of developing-country economies contribute to the rising slope of emissions. And deforestation not only generates carbon emissions from the burning of forest residues, but also reduces the capacity of forests to capture carbon. Flattening the emissions curve to slow the rate of global climate change requires increasing the efficiency of energy production, transmission, and consumption; switching to renewable energy sources for electricity generation and transportation; and using non-fossil-fuel-based feedstocks for chemical production, among other actions.</p><p>Efforts to meet previously established climate goals have failed for a variety of reasons, including the falling prices of coal, natural gas, and petroleum due to changed global economic conditions, and the increasing supplies of oil and natural gas available through hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The slowdown in global economic growth and a movement toward austerity measures has led some industrialized nations to limit or consider limiting their near-term support for clean energy alternatives, particularly given currently depressed fossil fuel prices.</p><p>Although rising greenhouse gas emissions may be an intractable problem in the near term, the means to significantly reduce both emissions and the rate of climate change are available. The rapidly falling costs of clean energy alternatives such as solar and wind power reduce the need for government subsidies to make them competitive with fossil fuels. Innovative financing mechanisms are making solar systems more accessible to consumers everywhere. New storage technologies help address the problem of intermittency of wind and solar power. Particularly in remote areas of developing countries, mini- and micro-grids can be deployed more rapidly than building or expanding a centralized electric grid. And at the corporate level, companies worldwide are committing publicly to increasing their investments in de-carbonization and reducing their carbon footprints.</p><p>Increasingly, the world has the means to achieve the needed emissions reductions. Whether or not the delegates to the 2015 climate conference in Paris can agree on a global accord, individuals, corporations, and national and subnational governments are showing greater willingness to take some needed actions. The important question is, will the required steps be taken rapidly enough to avoid crossing the 2 degrees Celsius threshold?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>The full data and analysis are available for purchase through our <a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/greenhouse-gas-increases-are-leading-faster-rate-global-warming" target="_blank">Vital Signs Online</a> website.</strong></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><strong>Notes to Editors: </strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Journalists may&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">obtain a complimentary copy</strong><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;of &quot;</span><a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/greenhouse-gas-increases-are-leading-faster-rate-global-warming" target="_blank">Greenhouse Gas Increases Are Leading to a Faster Rate of Global Warming</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&quot; by contacting Gaelle Gourmelon at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">.</span></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/press-room" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Sign up</a><span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> to receive a notification for all of our press releases.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/42768039" style="border:1px solid #CCC; border-width:1px; margin-bottom:5px; max-width: 100%;" width="425"></iframe></p><div style="margin-bottom:5px"><strong><a href="//www.slideshare.net/GaelleWorldwatch/ghg-emissions-slide-share" target="_blank" title="Can We Avoid the Two Degree Threshold? Vital Signs">Can We Avoid the Two Degree Threshold? Vital Signs</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="//www.slideshare.net/GaelleWorldwatch" target="_blank">Worldwatch Institute</a></strong></div><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=3mCuzPsHVTM:k0krkwjUy9k:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=3mCuzPsHVTM:k0krkwjUy9k:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=3mCuzPsHVTM:k0krkwjUy9k:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=3mCuzPsHVTM:k0krkwjUy9k:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/3mCuzPsHVTM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Chinaclimate changeelectricity productionenergy efficiencyenergy intensityEuropean Unionfossil fuelsglobal warminggovernancemethanenatural gasPressrenewable energyVital SignsVital Signs OnlineVital Signs, Vital Signs OnlineClimate & Energypress roomNewsFri, 12 Dec 2014 19:15:26 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14541 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/greenhouse-gas-increases-are-leading-faster-rate-global-warming-0New Study Addresses Renewable Energy Market Barriers in Latin America and the Caribbeanhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~3/E8fdeS-Ir6c/new-study-addresses-renewable-energy-market-barriers-latin-america-and-caribbean
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong style="line-height: 14.3999996185303px;">PRESS RELEASE</strong><strong style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">&nbsp;| Contact <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org?subject=SOW%202014%20inquiry">GAELLE GOURMELON</a> | For release: Wednesday, December 10, 2014</strong></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 275px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/study-development-renewable-energy-market-latin-america-and-caribbean" target=""><img alt="" src="/system/files/IDB Renewables in Latin America and Caribbean 2014_200px.png" style="line-height: 15px; width: 200px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; height: 257px;" /></a></p><h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 4.2pt; line-height: 15pt; text-align: center; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/study-development-renewable-energy-market-latin-america-and-caribbean"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Study on the Development of the Renewable Energy Market in Latin America and the Caribbean</b></a></h2></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: left;"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Notes to Editors:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The&nbsp;<b><i>Study on the Development of the Renewable Energy Market in Latin America and the Caribbean</i></b>&nbsp;is available for free download&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/study-development-renewable-energy-market-latin-america-and-caribbean" target="_blank">here</a></strong>. For more information, contact Gaelle Gourmelon at <a href="mailto:ggourmelon@worldwatch.org">ggourmelon@worldwatch.org</a>.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">&nbsp;</p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.iadb.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/idb-inter-american-development-bank-logo.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 81px;" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org" style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/system/files/Transparent GIF (for powerpoints).gif" style="width: 200px; height: 61px;" /></a></p></td></tr><tr style=""><td colspan="8" style="text-align: center;"><p>&nbsp;</p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height:1.4em;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 575px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><em>Worldwatch Institute report highlights opportunities for renewable energy development in Latin America and the Caribbean</em></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Washington, D.C.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The region of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is already a global low-carbon leader in terms of power generation from hydrological and biomass resources. Declining costs, maturing technologies, and vast untapped potentials including geothermal, solar, and wind offer an unprecedented opportunity to further develop the market for other renewable energy sources in the region. Continuing to support sustainable energy investment will provide LAC with the opportunity to address key economic, social, and environmental challenges and help countries mitigate and adapt to climate change, according to the latest report from the Worldwatch Institute (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/" style="line-height: 1.4em;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">www.worldwatch.org</span></a><span style="line-height: 1.4em; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">), prepared for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&ldquo;Our goal was to prepare a concise and comprehensive report on the current status of, and powerful drivers for, renewable energy in the LAC region,&rdquo; says Alexander Ochs, Worldwatch&rsquo;s Director of Climate and Energy and the project leader. &ldquo;We identify key technology, market, and policy barriers, as well as concrete instruments to overcome them. Because of the region&rsquo;s high vulnerability to extreme weather events, we specifically address the energy sector&rsquo;s climate change adaptation needs. And we provide a clear set of recommendations to multilateral banks for how to best fulfil their important role in supporting renewable energy development and deployment.&rdquo; <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Approximately 34 million people in LAC still lack access to electricity, and the region will need to double its installed power capacity by 2030 to meet rapidly growing electricity demand. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&ldquo;Self-sufficient, domestic renewable energy supply is a key component to increasing energy security, eliminating the need for expensive fuel imports, and reducing the burden on national budgets,&rdquo; says Ochs. &ldquo;What is more, local renewables are the only logical foundation of climate-compatible development and sustained economic growth.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Access to electricity is not the only challenge, as the region faces serious grid reliability and stability challenges. On average, system distribution losses reached 15 percent of total power output (1,379 Terawatt-hours, TWh) in 2011&mdash;almost twice the world average. In most parts of LAC, the grid infrastructure is outdated and in need of significant modernization and expansion. This creates a unique opportunity to build a 21st-century electricity system through integrated energy planning that can support growing shares of renewable energy, increase energy efficiency, and provide reliable service at the least cost in the long term.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">In addition to contributing to climate change mitigation, renewable energy can help make the region&rsquo;s energy systems more reliable and resilient in the face of a changing climate. Climate change is already having, and will continue to have, profound impacts on the regional economy, ecosystems, and human well-being in LAC. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&quot;The region has the world&rsquo;s greenest electricity mix in terms of carbon intensity,&rdquo; says Ochs. &quot;But its large dependence on hydropower creates a security risk for many countries, given changing rainfall patterns, melting glaciers, and the competition for scarce water resources among economic sectors. New distributed renewables have world-class potentials in many parts of LAC and are an effective and cost-efficient way to both mitigate and adapt to climate change.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">LAC has only begun to tap its renewable energy resource potential. Even excluding hydropower, the region could produce more than 78,000 TWh of electricity from renewable sources. This is enough capacity to meet the region&rsquo;s current (1,400 TWh) and future (2,500 TWh) electricity needs many times over.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&ldquo;The falling prices of renewables, their abundance, their complementarity, and their reliability today make renewable energy an economically favorable alternative to all conventional technologies in almost all countries of the region&mdash;<i>if</i> there is open and fair competition,&rdquo; says Ochs. &ldquo;But in many places, existing policies still support fossil fuels, and additional hindrances often exist, including social, market, and finance barriers. Governments have a responsibility to address these, and multilateral banks have important tools to support them.&rdquo; <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Effective policies and measures can greatly improve the investment environment for domestic and international, as well as public and private, actors. Considering the longevity of current investments in power system infrastructure, it is imperative that policymakers carry out integrated resource plans that seek to lower overall electricity system costs in the long term by considering technical, socioeconomic, market, and policy analysis and by taking advantage of synergies among different renewable sources, energy efficiency, and smart grid technologies.</span></p><p style="text-align: center; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p></o:p></span><strong style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.4em;">&mdash;END&mdash;</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Notes to Editors:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The <b><i>Study on the Development of the Renewable Energy Market in Latin America and the Caribbean</i></b> is available for free download <strong><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/bookstore/publication/study-development-renewable-energy-market-latin-america-and-caribbean" target="_blank">here</a></strong>.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About the Worldwatch Institute: </span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. Worldwatch delivers the insights and ideas that empower decision makers to create an environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs (</span><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">www.worldwatch.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">About the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> Established in 1959, IDB is the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.iadb.org/en/about-us/what-we-do,5997.html"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: windowtext;">support</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">s&nbsp;efforts by countries in the region to reduce poverty and inequality. It aims to bring about development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way (</span><a href="http://www.iadb.org/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">www.iadb.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">).&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=E8fdeS-Ir6c:RgE8Heij8Ns:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=E8fdeS-Ir6c:RgE8Heij8Ns:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?a=E8fdeS-Ir6c:RgE8Heij8Ns:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/worldwatch/all?i=E8fdeS-Ir6c:RgE8Heij8Ns:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/worldwatch/all/~4/E8fdeS-Ir6c" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>air pollutionbiomassclimate changeelectricity productionemissions reductionsenergy efficiencyenergy intensityfossil fuelsglobal warminggovernancegreen economicshydropowerLatin Americapovertyrenewable energysolar powerwind powerClimate & Energypress roomNewsWed, 10 Dec 2014 17:15:09 +0000Gaelle Gourmelon14537 at http://www.worldwatch.orghttp://www.worldwatch.org/new-study-addresses-renewable-energy-market-barriers-latin-america-and-caribbean